^, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


LI 

11.25 


u&  Uii   122 

u  lift 


HI 


12.0 

U    il.6 


—    6" 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


21  WBT  MAIN  STRnT 

WIISTIR,N.Y.  UStO 

(7U)t7a-4S03 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHJVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  IMicroraproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquas 


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which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


0 


D 


D 


D 
D 


n 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I   Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag6e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I   Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I   Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReM  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttos 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lo  sque  cele  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  4t6  fllmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires: 


L'institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6tA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  est  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibiiographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


□   Coloured  peges/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


D 
D 

n 


n 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtos 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pellicultes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolories,  tachet6es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tach^es 


r~^   Showthrough/ 


Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inAgale  de  I'impression 

includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


rri    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I     I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I    Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieliement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film^es  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


a4X 


28X 


32X 


"^m^w 


The  copy  filmed  her*  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Pubiic 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  fiimA  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
g^nArositA  de: 

La  bibiiothAque  des  Archives 
pubiiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  originel  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  --^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  film«,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exempleires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmte  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmfo  en  commengant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »•  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clichA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  has,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

:----| 


4 

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5 
s 

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THE   NEW  HEAVENS. 


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3 

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3 

3 


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THE   NEW    EAR  TIL. 


nv    THK 


REV.  PATRICK  GRAY,  OF  KiNGSVOM, 
CANADA  WEST. 


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3 

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'IMNTKI)   r.V  UOliKltT  KKNNKItV,  '•  F.V ANClll.lZKir'  lU'l'M(  I.'. 


18U1. 


|'<;t5i.M,....'t,'«.'..M.,.,,.«,.|,M,..,,.,,''.l..-'l.'.. '>.■!.»«.,'>.•>.".>'. .■V,'.,»./'>lU'>.. ..".(■. .•>.-'.>>.Cl.'>."    '■'<• 


'¥■■ 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS, 


AND 


THE  NEW  EARTH. 


BY  THE 


BEV.  PATBICK  GRAY,  OF  KINGSTON, 
CANADA  WEST. 


OGDENSIUTKGH,  N.Y.,  &  PRESCOTT,  C.W. : 
PKLNTED  BY  BOBERT  KKNXEDY,   "EVANGELIZEtt"  OFFICE. 

18t>l. 


(a 


PREFATORT   NOTE. 

The  substance  of  the  following  essay  was  first  delivered  to  the  anthol-'a 
congregation,  several  years  ago.  A  portion  of  it  was,  at  a  »ubsequoiit 
period,  reproduced  in  a  lecture  read  before  "  The  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,"  of  Ottawa.  The  lecture  appeared  in  one  of  the  Ottawa  papers 
at  the  time,  and  afterwards  repeated  enquiries  were  made  for  copies  which 
could  not  be  supplied.  Quite  recently,  requests  of  a  similar  nature  have 
been  made,  and  the  result  is  the  present  publication. 

The  subject  is  believed  to  be  one  of  great  practical  importance,  and 
fitted  to  exert  a  powerful  salutary  influence  upon  the  thoughts  and  actions 
of  men.    As  a  matter  of  such  consequence,  it  was  intended  to  be  treated.-— 

And  now  the  attempt  is  given  to  the  public,  in  the  hope  that  the  represen- 
tation of  "  the  things  above,*'  and  of  the  fututo  blessedness  of  "  the  ran- 
somed of  the  Lord,"  so  much  less  dwelt  upon  by  Christians  now,  than  by 
Christ  and  His  apostles,  may  have,  through  God's  blessing,  the  effect  ot* 
making  "the  Father's  house  dearer" — more  like  "sweet  home"  to  His 
children,  and  also  of  awakening  thought  and  desire,  and  helping  towards  their 
right  direction  in  all  classes  of  readers 
Kingston,  Oct,  1861. 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS, 

AND 

THE   NEW   EARTH 


After  life  and  immortality  have  been  brought  to  light,  after 
all  the  advances  made  by  men  in  the  knowledge  of  divine  and  human 
tilings,  the  certain,  solemn,  awftil  future  has  still  a  veil  of  impenetrable 
mystery  hanging  over  it. 

We  know,  from  the  works  and  word  of  (Jod,  from  the  instincts 
and  yearnings  of  our  nature,  that  there  is  to  be  a  resurrection,  judgment, 
retribution,  heaven,  and  hell!  We  khow  that,  though  we  die,  we  shall 
five  again  in  conscious  jDCi-sonal  identity,  and  in  conscious  possession  of 
Miss  or  woe;  but  what  shall  be  the  nature  and  manifestations  of  that 
future  life,  what  its  conditions,  sphere  of  action,  and  place  of  abode,  we 
'Can  answer  in  great  measure  only  by  conjecture. 

Ignorance  on  our  part  regarding  sucli  matters  is,  to  a  great  extent, 
unavoidable.  We  have  neither  llhe  means  of  obtsdning,  nor  the  capa- 
city of  understanding  full  informattion.  Unexplained  mystery  obscuring 
so  large  a  portion  of  "  the  world  to  come,"  w  hen,  doubtless,  God  could 
have  given  us  a  more  extensive,  if  not  a  complete  revelation  of  its 
wondei-s,  must  be  seen  by  the  All-wise  to  be  a  right  and  necessary 
arrangement  for  Us  in  our  present  state.  Even  we  o&n  understand 
how  clearer  views  ©f  the  future  would  invade  the  pi  vince  of  faith, 
displace  the  truest  tests  of  conduct  and  character,  and  aker  or  render 
vain  the  system  of  things  suitable  to  our  state  of  probation,  and  pro- 
bably unfit  us  for  every  duty  of  life. 

We  have  no  reason,  therefore,  to  complain  because  tliere  is  a  veil 
between  us  and  the  future,  nor  should  we  wish  for  more  than  the 
glimpses  into  that  within  this  veil  which  God  has  given;  trustfulness 
in  God  should  be  the  predominating  feature  of  character  now,  but  we 
mntj  strive  to  see  and  understond  clearly^  vihatis  revealed  to  its  through 
these  partial  opeuinc/s.  Now  I  fear  that  generally  we  do  not  under- 
stand, nor  take  sufficient  pains  to  understand,  what  God  has  actually 
made  known  to  us  about  the  future  state.    Not  only  is  it  impossible 


rr; 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


'»': 


for  us  now  to  suney  and  realize  in  its  vastness  tbat  " Avorkl  to  come " 
whose  giijantic  shadow  is  yet  looming  over  the  infant  in  the  crsvlle  as 
well  as  the  at;ed  man  just  about  to  enter  it*  unexploretl  domains,  but 
what  we  might  know  of  it  is  much  unknown.  The  actually  ret'euled 
ift,  to  a  great  degree,  a  vayue  and  dreamij  conception. 

The  little  child  thinks  of  heaven  away  uj)  in  the  blue  sky,  beyond 
the  sun  and  the  twinkling  stars;  of  happy  and  ble<=(sed  b*»ing8  there, 
reclining  upon  couches  forme<l  of  the  tleecy  clouds,  or  wandering  in 
verdant  glades  ])(.!rfun»ed  by  the  fragriuice  of  counfless  flowers:  or 
skinmiiiig  o'er  the  surface  of  the  "sea  dear  as  or\st!il,"  or  standing 
harp  in  han«l  around  the  throne,  amid  angd  choristers  singing  the 
jtraises  of  Him  who  said  of  little  children,  "of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."     Tlie  child  thinks  of  the  ]>it  of  wol-,  and  wretched  l>eing.s 
there;  of  a  dark  .nbyss  away  down  b(jneath  soiuewlure,  its  gloom  onl\' 
lightened  bv  bnmstonct  flauu's — its  silence  onlv  broken  bv  the  voice  of 
blasphemy  and  tlie  screams  of  ajmny  extorted  by  the  lash  of  cruel 
demons.     And  the  conceptions  of  grown-up  men  are  not  Ion<  crude, 
while  neither  so  beautiful  nor  so  terrible. 

Kow,  we  are  such — so  reliitcd  to  and  bound  up  in  that,  mysterious 
future,  that  ouv  ideas  of  it  cannot  but  exert  a  powerful  influence  upon 
us  in  this  present  state; — and  just  in  so  far  as  our  \iews  of  it  are  accu- 
rate or  5naccm'}»te  reflections  of  the  light  of  truth,  will  our  conduct  and 
oharacter  be  right  or  wrong  to  the  extent  that  conduct  and  character 
are  moulded  by  "the  powers  of  the  world  to  come." 

Thus,  refi^'ring  to  the  prospect  of  immortality,  the  Apostle  John 
says*  "Now  are  we  the  sons  of  (lod,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what 
•we  shall  be;  but  we  know  that,  when  He  shall  ai)pear,  we  shall  lie  like 
Him;  for  we  shall  see  Him  as  He  is."     If  besides,  and  connected  with 
this  sublime  yet  avowedly  indefinite  statement,  certain  so-called  spiritual 
nivstical,  perha))s  absurd  notions  of  the  stale  of  glory  are  entertained, 
the  etlect  of  these  fantasies,  so  far  as  views  of  the  future  do  afloct  a 
luan,  is  to  make  the  Christian  a  childish  visionary.     If,  on  the  other 
band,  with  the  full  belief  of  the  unutterable  and  inconceivable  felicity 
and   grandeur   of  the   heavenl}'   state,   which   scri])tnre  poetry   and 
metaphor  have  labored,  and  labored  in  vain,  to  rejiresi-nt,  the  Christian 
liolds  sober,  rational,  and  as  accurate  views  of  huaven  as  an^  revealed, 
the  etlect  of  such  faith  and  opinion  is  to  make  him  a  faithful,  and  at 
the  same  time  an  ijitelligent  expectant  of  eternal  life. 

Bearino-  these  ])reliminary  observations  in  mind,  lot  us  fry,  by  a 
careful  induction  of  facts  re\  ealed  to  us  in  tlie  Word  and  works  of  Gad, 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH. 


and  by  a  cautious  and  reverential  reasoning  upon  sucli  data,  to  impress 
upon  and  infuse  into  oar  conceptions  of  the  world  to  come,  tha 
t'orni  and  lite  of  truth,  as  nmch  hh  it  is  ]K)88iblo  for  us  to  do  in  suoli 
a  caae. 

All  descriptions  of  the  heavenly  state  found  in  the  Bible  are  fijrti- 
vative,  literal,  or  niixed-^that  is,  the  figurative  and  the  literal  blended 
or  meeting  in  the  aaim*  statement.  This  distinction  is  ol)vious  and 
examples  of  these  different  classes  of  statements  will  readily  occur  to 
your  memory.  To  save  time  I  shall  not  quote,  as  I  might.j  passages 
J>eloni;ing  to  each  kiml,  but  at  onw  call  attention  to  a  plain, 
literal  sUitement  regarding  the  abode  and  character  of  man  re<1eemed 
and  rostoied  to  I'ighteousucss,  on  which  I  propose  to  found  the  obser- 
vations which  fbllow. 

In  the  second  epistle  of  Peter,  the  Apostle,  speaking  of  the  cer- 
tainty of  a  future  stale  of  retribution,  to  warn  infidel  and  Ungodly 
■scoffers,  and  to  eheer  and  urge  to  energetic  dutif'ulnefs  those  who  waited 
for  the  coming  of  the  Lord,  says,  "The  day  of  the  Tiord  will  come  as 
a  thief  in  the  niglit,  m  the  which  the  heavens  shall  pai-^s  away  with  a 
great  noise,  and  the  elenienus  shall  melt  with  fer\ent  heat;  the  earth 
also  and  the  works  that  are  therein  shall  l>e  burnt-d  up.  Seeing  then 
that  all  these  things  shall  be  dissolved,  what  manner  of  persens  ought 
ye  to  Ikj  in  all  holy  conversation  and  godliness,  looking  for  and  hasting 
unto  the  coming  of  tile  day  of  God  ?  Nevertheless  we,  according  to 
His  promise,  look  for  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth,  vlwrinn  dwelhtk 
ri(//dcoii)incss." — 2  Pet.  iii.  10-13. 

This  statement  does  not  occur  in  a  poetical  writing,  but  in  a  calm, 
instructive,  friendly  letter.  We  aw  not  pivsented  with  metaphors  in 
the  glowing  and  gxjrgeous  language  of  the  enraptured  seer,  which  wo 
must  K'ceive  just  as  so  many  symbolic  signs,  or  sensuous  ]iicture8  of 
the  reiiiity.  Wo  have  »  plain,  simple  description  of  what  is  to  be,  so 
far  as  language  can  depict,  and  iw  it  is  proper  for  us  to  know.  There 
is  to  be  "new  heavens  and  a  new  earth;'"— a  real  heav.'us  and  earth 
for  lestored  man.  It  is  the  future,  not  tlie  millennia),  stat<^  of  whieli 
the  ^ijostle  speaks.  The  people  whom  he  a<ldivs8cd  look<'d  for  it — had 
it  asstned  to  them,  but  they  saw  no  millennium.  Thousands  in  the 
succeeding  ages,  who  believed  this  report  and  fell  asleep  on  its  promise, 
saw  no  luillenniura.  W(i,  ta  whom  this  promise  is  also  given,  in  these 
latter  days  see  no  millennium.  It  is  coming,  but  not  yet  come,  and 
tliere  is  little  ho[)e  of  it  for  many  a  day.  And  this  star,  ment  about 
the  future  is  ati  intelligible  re\tih(tion  to  us,  as  now  si  uated,  other- 


e  THE  NEW  HEAVENS 

wise,  it  1*8  no  revelation  at  all.  From  nil  xrhkh  it  seems  to  foIIoiT  fn- 
crt  itably  that  tbo  future  state  of  **  tbe  redeemed  from  aniongf  men,"  vrH\ 
bear  a  resemblance — be  sinnlar  to  tbe  present  state  of  Utings  in  itR 
great  and  essential  physical  a8j>ects — and  that  the  diti"o!"i  nee  will  be 
chiefly  in  a  moral  and  spiritual  reH]iect,  for  in  the  new  esirth  '  dtvelleth 
risjhteouaneBs."  In  that,  with  such  changes  and  modifications  ns  are 
necessary  to  adapt  the  aliode  for  a  regenerate*!  and  koly  and  happy 
race  of  t>eing9,  liea  probably  all  tbe  diflerenco  l)etwei'n  tbe  earth  that 
now  isy  and  *'tbe  inlieritance  of  the  saints." 

How  many  airy  and  fantastic  and  groundless  notions  are  dissipatetl 
on  this  supposition  ?  Heaven,  as  we  have  thonght  of  it,  has  been  a 
dream,  a  myth,  a  receptacle  and  commixture  of  all  fanciful  and  evon 
impossible  things,  to  perplex,  and  confound,  and  fill  with  dismay  every 
one  who  strove  to  gaze  ujwn  tbe  holy  place,  and  desired  to  enter  into 
the  joy  of  the  Lord.  And  yet  these  notions  were  dignified  with  the 
name  of  devotional  feelings  and  holy  beliefs.  And  tbo  simple-minded 
and  tiie  most  earnest  sonb  have  feared  and  mourned  because  they  could 
not  work  up  within  thoir  minds  an  appreciation  of,  and  desires  for  thes© 
fancy  sketches ;  because  they  found  nothing  within  to  meet  with,  ami 
correspond  to  what  they  fondly  thought  was  heaven,  but  what  was  in  fact 
the  disorderly,  monstrous  product  of  human  ignorance  and  weak  pietism. 

In  proof  and  illustration  of  what  has  been  advanced,  let  me  call 
your  attention  first  of  all  to  the  nature  of  the  being  iix  whom  the  new 
heavens  and  earth  are  designed. 


1.  Man  is  a  erontnro  of  complex  strnctnre  and  manifold  endow- 
ment. He  is  formed  with  a  material  body,  by  which  be  is  allied  l<» 
earth,  and  to  the  lower  wders  of  creatures  there.  He  possesses  an 
immortal  soul,  by  which  he  is  alUed  to  other  intdligent  creatures,  and 
to  God  above,  tbe  Creator  of  all.  As  having  a  God,  his  Father  and 
(iovornor,  and  a  soul  which,  as  it  came  ft-om  (Jod,  can  find  its  rest  and 
liai)]>iness  only  in  God,  he  needs  a  heaven,  a  dwelling-place  of  the  Most 
Hicrb,  whither  to  tnrn  his  eyes  and  heart  in  de\  otion ;  he  needs  a  temple 
and  a  religion  to  be  the  channel  of  conimunJon  with  that  God.  So  he 
r?<niires  now,  and  shall  require  ever — -"  Hetivens."  As  endowed  with 
intelligence,  reason,  sentiment,  and  strong  atteetions,  he  needs  both 
'*  heavens"  and  "earth"  to  occupy  his  faculties  in  tbe  pnrsnit  of  science, 
ti  utb  and  good  below,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  the  highest  and  holiest  above. 
As  the  possessor  of  bodily  organs  and  powers,  he  needs  afield  for  their 
exercise,  a  work  to  engjigc  him,  a  place  and  time  to  do  it,  and  materials 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH. 


to  work  upon,  so  he  requires  also  an  earth,  and  ever  shall,  iwhile  his 
nature  is  human.  Thus  that  future  state,  to  be  a  state  for  humanity, 
must  of  necessity  l>e  composed,  as  now,  of  heaven  and  earth.  A 
brighter  heaven,  indeed,  for  regenerated  and  gloiiiied  humanity,  shall 
stand  in  a  new  r<^lation  to  heaven-*— as  it  were  nearer,  "  before  the 
throne;"  a  more  beautiful,  an  altogether  lovely  earth,  for  it  shall  be 
formed  to  he  the  fit  and  pure  abode  of  immortal  and  sinless  men. 

It  might  be  objected  to  this  reasoning,  proceeding  as  it  does  mainly 
upon  analogy,  that  it  is  inconclusive,  because  man,  in  the  world  to 
come,  may  not  be  at  ail  like  man  as  he  is  now.  To  this  point  I  call 
particular  attention,  as  it  aSfocts  most  m:iterially  the  whole  process 
of  investigation,  and  the  conclusion  to  which  we  may  be  led.  In  the 
gloiified  state  man  cannot  be  as  he  is  now,  nor  is  it  possible  for  us  to 
conceive  fully  what  shall  be  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  changes  to  be 
undergone,  or  the  nature  of  that  blessed  state  for  which  he  is  adapted 
by  these  changes.  "We  know  not  what  we  shall  be."  Man  was 
created  in  God's  image,  a  perfectly  holy,  happy,  intelligent  creatn-e. 
He  required  and  he  had  "  heavens  and  earth  "  then.  From  that  state 
of  bliss  man  by  transgression  fell,  and  became  an  unholy,  degnuled, 
guilty,  and  wretched  creature;  an  object  of  just  abhorrence  to,  and 
deserving  the  wrath  of  God.  But  man  is  also  an  object  of  compassion 
to  the  blessed  Grod,  and,  in  His  love  and  pity  for  the  poor  victim  of  sin, 
He  sent  His  own  Son  "to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost." 
Christ  is  "  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost,  all  that  come  unto  God  by 
Him."  He  saves  from  the  curse,  the  pollution,  and  practice  of  sin. 
He  delivers  from  degradation  and  woe  all  who  flt-e  to  Him  for  refuse. 
Ho  sends  the  promise  of  the  Father — the  life  and  light-bringing  Spirit 
— to  regenerate  the  nature  corrupted  by  sin,  that  it  may  have  fellow- 
ship with  God.  And  finally.  He  exalts  His  redoeined  to  glory,  i)ower, 
and  immortality  in  heaven.  There  the  twilight  is  exchanged  for  cloud- 
less, daj' death  is  swallowed  up  of  life,  the  mortal  puts  on  immortality, 
and  all  the  redeemed  are,  as  creatures  may  be,  holj^  as  God  is  holy : — 
they  are  jwrfectly  blessed  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  God  to  all  eternity! 
How  unlike  the  present  life,  that  life  with  God !  And  yet  the  redeeme<l 
in  glory  are  men,  not  another  order  of  creatures,  but  human  k^ings, 
and  clad  with  all  the  attributes  of  humanity.  If  this  wei-e  not  so, 
where  would  be  the  conscioiisness  of  personal  identity  in  the  future 
state?  Where  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob  in  heaven  if  they  h*l 
become  other  creatures,  so  changed  as  to  be  Abraham,  Isaac,  an  1  Jacob 
SO  more }    What  woul4  be  the  value  of  ikQ  solemn  safiutioos  of  revo" 


8 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


lation  ?    Where  the  anticipations  of  joy  or  terror  on  a  judgment  iJaft 
\f  people  were  not  to  know  themselves,  and  those,  too,  whom  they  had 
known  on  earth?    "We  all  must  stand  before  the  judj;^nent-sejit  of 
Christ  r    What  meaning  would  there  be  in  the  declaration  if  wo 
were  not  to  know  ourselves  and  one  another  to  have  been  what 
we  now  are?    And  how,  if  we  were  changed  into  another  kind  of 
beings,  could  we  know  that?    And  how,  if  so  changed,  could  we  witli 
intelligent  consciousness,  sing  in  glory,  "Thou  hast  redeemed  us?'* 
Besides,  Enos  and  Elias  have  gone  into  that  unseen  world,  body  and 
soul,  only  their  mortality  was  exchanged  for  immortality  ;  their  huma- 
nity in   its  completeness  is  there.      And  Christ  is  risen,  and  His 
humanity  is  enthroned  in  glory.     The  very  body  that  grew  on  earth 
from  infancy  to  manhood,  that  was  wearied  and  worn,  that  was  dis- 
figured by  rod  and  scourge,  and  mangled  on  the  cross,  that  lay  cold 
and  lifeless  in  Joseph's  tomb, — was  raised  again,  and  re-united  in  end- 
less life  to  the  human  spirit  that  Lad  animated  it,  and  to  the  God  who 
had  assumed  it  to  Himself. 

8()  humanity  is  already  in  heaven,  and  humanity  shall  dwell  in 
Iieave))  >vlien  all  things  are  restored.  And  the  change  which  passes  on 
it,  and  'ii^tirignishes  it  from  humanity  here,  is  not  such  as  to  make  it 
iinothor  kind  or  form  of  life,  it  is  simp-ly  a  change  to  perfectness.  Sin 
and  guilt  upon  the  soul,  tendencies  to  decay  and  elements  of  dissolution 
in  the  bo'l} ,  roi-iuptions  of  every  kind,  are  left  behind.  Incorruptibility 
in  ev(  1 V  Sviii>o  is  the  nature  of  redeemed  and  glorified  man — man  still, 
iis  nt»\v,  witU  notliing  wanting  but  what  sin  and  earthly  circumstunco 
had  iiiV(-,ti.'d  him  with. 

]>!ii  .■^onn-  niJiy  object  to  this  conoliisioii  \\\  the  very  words  of 
C'hri.-I  :  "Tiiiv  thai  are  counted  worthy  to  obtain  that  world,  and  th© 
resunvnii>u  ttoin  tlie  dead  .  .  .  are  ecjual  unto  the  angck;  and  are 
the  eii;i.liv;u  nf  (iod;"  Lidie  xx.  35,  36 — meaning,  if  they  me^in  any- 
thing- (iill'ciout  from  what  1  have  said,  that  glorified  men  shall  be  like 
angeis,  vunicioo  a  ])Uysical  change,  and  become  another  and  higher 
order  oi'  boiiits.  To  this  objection  it  is  suflicient  to  rejdy,  that  Christ's 
\\cr<U  ii)uuij-iiance  no  such  interpretation.  Men  shah  be  like  angels  in 
jiiorai  i!i;u;utor,  in  inimortality,  in  the  possession  of  the  Holy  Father's 
love,  '.ihI  111  all  conformation  to  their  cxjilted  stale;  but  they  shall  b« 
men  -iiii,  like  Christ.  AS  MAN  He  rose  and  sits  on  hij-h.  Must  Ho 
than;"  His  form  a.s  Sou  of  Man?  Must  the  Lauib  lea\e  the  throne? 
He  i.'M^t.  if  we  are  not  to  he  human  beings,  and  if  we  are  to  Ixi  like 

JlilH   'M    i.'  -(N.  II. 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH, 


9 


Some  tave  held  yet  more  extravagrant  opinions  al>out  the  nature 
and  rank  of  redeemed  men  hereafter.  Putting  an  erroneous  construc- 
tion upon  such  passages  of  Scripture  as  these,  "  Know  ye  not  that  wo 
fihali  judge  angels?"  "  Christ  took  not  on  him  the  nature  of  angels," 
<fec.,  they  have  inferred  that  men  in  glory  would  be  exalted  al»ove  angels. 

Now,  if  Christ  would  only  save  you,  if  God  would  only  count  yoii 
worthy  of  the  life  to  come,  would  you  not  be  satisfied  and  liai>py  if  just 
regarded  in  heaven  as  sinners  saved  l>y  grace?  Would  it  not  be  honor 
enough  to  be  able  to  claim  kindred  with  Jesus,  to  know  God  as  your 
Father,  to  b«  loved  by  llim,  as  pure  and  holy  human  hcingt?  Would 
it  add  to  your  felicity  to  be  exalted  above  holy  creatures  who  never  did 
but  obey  their  God  ?  Would  it  be  right  in  God  to  elevate  to  a  hijjher 
state  of  dignity  rebels,  caught  in  arms  against  Him  and  only  saved  by 
grace,  than  He  assigns  to  those  who  ever  did  His  pleasure  i 

It  is  true,  honoi  and  blessings  shall  be  cont'ejied  on  saved  men  of 
H  kind  not  bestowed  on  angels.  Salvation  is  granted  to  men  and  not 
to  angels,  but  it  is  to  the  high  honour  of  holy  angels  tb-it  tliey  did  not 
netnl  salvation  I  They  loved  God.  They  served  Him  still,  wlien  all 
our  race  had  dared  to  hate  and  defy  their  Maker  !  Go<l  honors  ran- 
somed men,  bestows  on  them  peculiar  honors;  but  may  not  honors  a 
thousandfold  be  also  the  portion  of  angels  ?  Our  Queen  usually  dwells 
in  her  palace  on  the  Isle  of  Wight.  On  that  island  there  is  many  a 
sweet  cottage  home,  though  lowly  in  coniparison  with  the  residence  of 
royalty,  yet  happy,  sheltering  homes.  Supi)ose  the  queen  weie  to  le7iv<j 
her  palace,  and  take  up  her  abode  in  a  cottage  for  a  while:  for  the 
time,  an  honor  would  be  conferred  on  the  lowly  cot  that  A>as  awanting 
to  the  splendid  mansion;  but  the  cottage  would  be  a  cottage  still,  and 
the  [yalace  a  palace  still.  So  "  God  in  Christ"  appeared  in  hunuin  and 
not  angelic  form,  and  God  in  grace  exalts  humanity  to  glory;  but 
humanity  is  still  humanity,  and  angel  life  and  excellency  are  still  angel 
life  and  excellency. 

Still  more,  what  is  the  value  of  the  information  given  us  by  those 
who  talk  and  write  and  ])rint  about  man  being  like  the  anjrels,  or  ex- 
ulted above  angels  ?  Can  they  tell  us  what  angels  are  like  ?  In  very 
eommon  parlance  and  cpinion  angels  are  pure,  immaleilal  spirits,  jws- 
scshing  neither  bodily  organs  nor  form.  Now,  who  taught  men  this? 
Books!  Systems  of  tlieology!  Who  taught  the  authors  of  these 
books  and  systems?  They  never  considered  that  tliey  mi'iht  be  asked 
the  tpu'stion.  They  may  quote  the  Scriptiue,  "He  niaketh  His  angels 
spirits,  His  ministers  a  flaming  fire;"  but  if  you  tuin  to  Psal.  civ., 


10 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


wli«!ti»«  the  proof  is  takfn,  jrou  will  find  that  the  whole  psalm  refers  to 
CickI'm  control  of  all  tho  «!l«inef»tH,  and  creatures  in  the  material  world; 
mt<l  tliut  the  poHHa^c  <|Uot(;d  nieanfs  He  makes  the  winds  His  messen- 
^»»rK,  and  the  lij;htiiin^H  Ilis  Hcrvants — all  agencies  employed  by  Him 
in  the  inninU'tianre  and  ^r>vern7n«nt  of  His  creatures.  It  is  an  amazing 
fttcl,  that  nil  human  hoadn  seem  to  have  been  filled  with  the  idea  of 
niHfcU  hfcing  what  are  cuilwl  puro  Hpirits,  while  not  a  passage  of  Scrip- 
ture aHinns  it,  and  while  in  strict  propriety  we  cannot  conceive  of  pure 
spirit  at  all;  our  neitrest  approach  to  that  btiing  an  approach  to  the 
a)n(e)iti<»n  of  y7«  One  IFncreuted,  Infinite,  Glorious  God,  who  fills 
imrnetiHilif  loilh  HIh  presence.  13y  the  very  nature  of  finiteness — the 
UuiiKJ  <Mrciiin.scribing  all  crcattii*e  life — we  are  prevented  from  affirming 
|)«ir(f  Hpirituality  of  any  creature.  The  Scriptures  too,  and  even  all  our 
ideas  of  angcJH,  iiiv<'8t  th<'m  with  attributes  that  can  be  predicated  only 
111"  beings  iii  Homo  material  form.  We  read  of  one  who  flew  swiftly, 
!in<l  took  up  m  nnuli  time  in  his  flight,  and  it  is  only  to  matter  that 
-.liHtige  and  motion  and  time  can  be  ap]>lied.  If  it  be  still  objected 
lluit  the  ang(tls  are  (iod's  ministers  to  the  heirs  of  salvation,  and  that 
limy  are  inviisibl*!,  though  doubtless  ever  near  to  men;  I  reply,  that 
Itivisibility  is  as  much  an  at  I'ibule  of  matter  in  many  a  form,  as  it  can 
\\«  of  spirit,  (lod  makes  the  air  wo  breathe  His  messenger  for  good 
to  us.  AVe  feel  the  exhilarating  influence  of  the  cool  breeze  when  it 
fans  our  fnvored  brow.  Wo  witness  the  destructive  effects  of  the  wind 
in  a  storm  s«»metinn'8.  liut  who  over  saw  the  air?  Yet  it  is  matter, 
possessing  form  and  parts.  (Jod  makes  the  electric  fluid  a  beneficial 
atgont.  pt'rviiding,  so  fur  as  we  know,  all  material  things,  and  essential 
1«>  tJH'ir  utility,  and  oxistonce  it  may  be.  We  hear  the  roUing  thunder, 
but  have  we  lu«ard  its  noiseless  cause?  We  see  the  flashing  lightning; 
— that  is  «)nly  the  combustion  of  a  portion  of  the  air  ignited  by  the 
paN»agi»  of  the  subtlo  lluid,  which  we  have  not  seen.  We  may  have  stood 
unu»ug  the  eagt^r  «i»)wd  at  the  telegraph  station,  waiting  with  anxiety  for 
oajhhM^iI  and  im]>ortant  iut^'Uigcnoe,  and  when  the  message  came,  to 
glsddt'ii  lioarti*  with  the  tidings  of  triumph,  or  to  sadden  with  the  dismal 
nvital  of  sutlering  and  sliame  and  death;  who  of  all  that  multitude, 
*lisjH«rsing  in  joy  or  sorrow,  s»w  the  swift  messenger  who  leajMjd  o'er 
spaiv  at  a  lu>und,  .uiul  brought  the  thrilling  report?  And  yet  electri- 
city is  niattor,  anil  doubtless  has  its  proj^r  form  and  pans.  And  so 
ruigels  n\;iy  have  sulv*tantial  form,  so  puri>,  so  ethereal  as  to  be  invisible 
to  moiUil  ove.  And  so  too  may  the  matter  of  wb.ioh  the  immortal 
body  of  pert'vvteil  tnan  is  com|>oseil  be  refined,  and  every  way  adapted 
for  the  uiulviiij;  life. 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH. 


n 


ing 
of 


The  cone'"?'  to  wliicli  we  are  biought  ihen,  at  thia  stage,  is  that 
man  redt^med  i,  ..  restored  shall  continue  ever  man;  that  a  poifoct 
humanity,  an  undying  body  and  holy  soul,  shall  occupy  the  future 
state  of  blessedness,  and  partake  of  its  unfading  joys.  This  being  atl- 
mitted,  and  I  do  not  see  how  it  can  be  denied,  it  follows  that,  not  oiJy 
for  the  enjoyment,  but  for  the  actual  existence  of  men,  there  must  be 
idl  the  requisites  and  accompaniments  of  perfect  human  life:  there  must 
he  for  it  both  material  and  spiritual  aliment  and  objects :  there  must  be 
literally  "  Lew  heavens  and  a  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteous- 
ness;" an  earth  or  world  like  this  to  dwell  in,  and  a  heaven  above  with 
our  God  there  to  lo:)k  up  to  and  adore. 


2.  By  the  very  use  of  the  phrase  "  new  earth"  in  connection  wit}», 
nnd  yet  distinguished  from,  "  new  heavens,"  wo  would  naturally  under- 
stand that  a  material  place  of  abode  was  mer.nt;  whether  this  gloI.>e, 
vhich  is  our  dwelling  now,  renovated  and  made  a  j>ara»li8e,  or  sonw? 
other  sphere  already  formed,  or  to  be  created  i4S  a  lit  receptacle  for 
ransomed  and  exalted  man. 

The  perfect  life  and  life-enjoyment  of  any  being  consists  in  the 
exercise  of  all  its  functions  in  the  proper  season  and  maimer.  Now  the 
incorruptible  body  which  springs  up  in  "the  resurrection  unto  life;*' 
that  which  the  Apostle  Paul  calls  "a  spiritual  body,"  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  "natural"  or  mortal  body  of  this  present  state,  h  aome- 
thing  diti'erent  from  the  spirit  which  animates  it.  It  ditters  from 
its  animating  spirit  in  that  it  is  matter,  bodi/  and  not  soul;  and  it 
lias  at  least  its  germ  and  type  in  the  dying  body  here.  It  is  "  t?iis 
corruptifjle"  that  is  to  put  on  "incorruj>tion,"  and  "//««  mortar^ 
•♦immorUility."  Christ  did  not  say  to  Martha  and  Mary,  "Tiiy 
brother* s  spirit  shall  live  again,"  but  "  Thy  brother  shall  rise  sjgnin." 
To  use  the  apostle's  own  illustration,  As  the  wheat  reaped  this  season 
had  its  germ  in  the  seed  sown  las.,  autumn  or  spring,  though  that  was 
cast  into  the  earth  and  died  there,  so  the  undying  germ  of  human 
life  within  us  now,  to  bo  consignetl  to  the  grave  with  the  corruptible 
body,  shall  never  lose  its  vitality,  and  from  it  shall  'irioe  on  the  resur- 
rection morning  the  immortal  form — the  perfect  (levelopment  of  what 
was  so  imperfect  here.  And  that  perfect  form  being  material,  possess^ 
ing  the  organs  and  functions  of  body,  these  must  b'^  exercised  in  order 
to  the  happiness  and  usefulness  and  life  of  the  being  who  owns  that 
body. 

In  connection  with  the  passages  just  referred  to  in  1  Cor.  xv.,  the 


12 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


.A]iostle  incidentally  ca'^ts  the  light  of  revelation  upon  the  point  I  wish 
to  establish.     Ho  says,  "All  flesh  is  not  the  same  flesh;  but  there  is 
one  kind  of  flesh  of  men,  another  flesh  of  l)easts,  another  of*  fishes,  and 
another  of  birds.     There  are  also  celestial  bodies  and  bodies  teirestrial; 
but  the  gloiy  of  the  celestial  is  one,  and  the  glory  of  the  terrestrial 
is  another.     There  is  one  glory  of  the  sun  and  another  glory  of  the 
moon,  and  another  glory  of  the  stars ;  for  one  star  dittereth  from  another 
star  in  glory.     So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.     It  is  sown  in 
corruption;  it  is  raised  in  inoorrui)tion.     It  is  sown  in  dishonor;  it  is 
raised  in  glory.     It  is  sown  in  weakness;  it  is  raisod  in  power.     It  is 
sown  a  natural  body;  it  is  raised  a  spiritual  body."    The  unconstrained 
meaning  of  nil  which  I  believe  to  be  this: — All  bodies,  as  such,  every- 
where are  material,  possessed  of  all  the  properties  and  subject  to  all  the 
Conditions  of  matter.    But  these  bo-lies,  formed  of  the  same  constituent 
jiarticles,  may  have  the  matter  of  which  they  are  composed  so  variously 
arranged,  and  its  particles  so  combined  as  to  produce  great  varieties  in 
their  appearance,  adapting  them  for  various  and  widely  diti'erent  cir- 
cumstances and  us»^'s.     liordes  celestial  aie  arranged  and  fitt&l  for  celes- 
tial occupants  and  purposes:  bodies  terrestrial  for  earthly  inhabitant!^ 
and  ends.     Roth  are  material,  both  suitable,  and  even  l)eautiful  in  their 
adaptation  for  their  respective  objects.     But  the  glory  of  the  celestial 
excels.     As  the  diamond,  which,  tliongh  a  stone  so  precious,  in  reality 
so  beautiful  and  rare,  is  yet  composed  essentially  of  the  same  matter  as 
the  common  charcoal  consumed  by  the  bushel  every  day  in  our  work- 
shops, the  ilifteience  of  arrangement  and  conjbination  of  the  material 
j)articles  actually  forming  in  one  case  the  costly  jewel,  in  the  other 
the  useful  but  c(»mpaiativeh'^  valueless  coal; — so  in  the  heavens  and  on 
the  earth  we  behold  this  variety  in  the  aspects  of  material  things,  while 
one  essential  substance  is  the  basis  of  them  all.     In  animated  nature,  m 
says  the  apostle,  "There  is  one  kintl  of  flesh,"  that  is,  body  or  form,  "  of 
man,  another  of  beasts;"  we  see  all  life  embodied  in  matter,  with  the 
same  properties,  but  arrayed  in  many  different  ranks  and  orders,  each 
kind  constituted  for  its  sjiecial  sphere  of  existence.     The  fish  is  fitted 
for  existing  in  water,  the  bird  is  formed  lor  thing  in  the  air;  the  great 
bod^-  of  (juadrupeds,  and  man  as  an  animal,  arc  adapted,  for  life  and 
action  on  the  firm  ground.     All  are  of  the  earth,  earthy,  and  all  need 
an  earth  to  dwell  in.     Eveii  the  wiltl  sea-bird  that  seems  ever  on  the 
wing,  or  if  it  rests,  can  sit  and  sleep  securely  on  the  bosom  of  the  stormy 
•K'eau,  can  ride  'mid  the  foam  on  the  crest  of  the  hea\  ing  billow,  ami 
scream  with  joy  and  defiance  in  the  wild  conflict  of  i aging  elements — 


AND  THP:  new  earth. 


13 


even  it,  wliich  can  exist  and  enjoy  where  we,  with  forms  adaptetl  for 
another  kind  of  life,  would  perish,  needs  earth  and  is  as  much  allied  to 
earth  as  we.  The  air  in  which  it  flies,  the  sou  on  which  it  floats  are 
component  parts  of  earth.  It  cannot  soar  away  above  the  atmosphere 
which  surrounds  our  globe  and  live  there.  It  cannot  do  without  the 
food  it  finds  i)rovided  for  it  in  the  threat  deep.  It  is  material  an<l  must 
fulfil  the  conditions  of  material  life.  And,  in  like  manner,  must  the 
glorifie^l  body  of  redeemed  man,  as  it  is  body-matter  still,  however 
glorious  the  change  it  shall  underuo,  meet  with  corresponding  material 
elements  whereon,  and  wherein,  and  whereby  to  manifest  and  enjov  its 
existence.     And  that  condition  of  things  it  shall  find  in  the  "  new  earth." 

3.  The  "new  earth"  may  be  this  old  earth  renovat<«d  and  fitted 
by  Trod  for  the  residence,  or  at  least  for  the  fii-st  stage  in  the  future 
career,  of  man  renewed  after  the  image  of  his  Maker.  I  do  not  affirm 
this.  I  only  say  may  he.  In  theology,  as  in  all  science,  there  are  pro- 
bable and  certain  truths:  the  first  are  matter  of  opinion,  the  latter 
matter  of  faith.  That  there  shall  be  a  new  earth  for  men  in  the  world 
to  come,  is  a  revealed,  certain  truth,  which  you  must  believe  on  G(»d'8 
authority,  or  reject  at  your  ])enl.  That  the  "new  earth"  shall  be  thie; 
earth  renewed,  is  only  a  probable  truth  or  conjecture  which,  after  heju- 
iiig  what  may  be  said  in  support  of  its  probability,  you  are  at  liberty  to 
receive  or  reject,  as  to  you  may  seem  right.  I  am  inclined  to  think 
the  opinion  is  right,  and  will  give  you  my  reasons  for  thinking  so,  believ- 
ing that  it  will  b<'  no  unprofitable  study  whatever  conclusion  we  come  to. 

That  which  forms  the  greatest  obstacle  to  the  admission  of  this 
opinion — which  may  make  the  ex])ression  of  it  startling  to  many,  is  the 
apparent  contradii?tion  which  it  receives  in  the  express  language  of 
Scripture.  Thus  it  is  written,  "  A  neio  earth."  "Of  old  hast  Thou 
laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth ;  and  the  heavens  are  the  work  of  Thy 
bands.  They  shall  perish,  but  Thou  shalt  endure:  yea  all  of  them  shall 
wax  old  like  a  garment:  as  a  vesture  shalt  Thou  change  them,  and 
they  shall  be  changed ;"  Ps.  cii.  "  Lift  up  your  eyes  to  the  heavens, 
and  look  upon  the  earth  boneatli:  for  the  heavens  shall  vanish  away 
like  smoke,  and  the  earth  sliall  wax  old  like  a  garment ;"  Is.  li.  6.  "  The 
heavens  shall  j)ass  away  with  a  great  noise,  and  the  elements  shall  melt 
with  fervent  heat,  the  earth  also  and  the  works  that  are  therein  shall 
lie  burned  up.     All  th«se  things  shall  be  dissolved;"  2  Pet.  iii.  7-11. 

1  never  liked  to  hazard  statements  in  opposition  to  the  ap)>arent 
sense  of  Scripture.     In  all  ordinary  cases  the  mind  of  the  (Spirit  in 


u 


THE  NEW  afiAVSNB 


Bcriptiifo  78  found  in  the  obvious  meaning  that  would  occur  to  a  plain, 
honest  and  sensible  tnan;  anvi,  I  believe,  that  the  greatest  injury  to  re- 
ligion, has  been  done  by  men  putting  far-fetched  interpretations  upon 
the  Word,  instead  of  taking  the  Bible  simply  in  the  fortnthat  TJorl  has 
given  it.     But  in  references  to  the  events  and  things  of  a  peiiod  long 
since  passed  away  ;  and  particularly  in  passages  descriptive  of  the 
phenomena  of  the  future  life,  where  figures  must  be  employed  if  there 
is  to  be  desciiption  at  all,  and  where  frequently  the  boldest  metaphora 
are  employed  by  the  aacred  writers ;  it  is  most  evident  that  the  obvious> 
literal  meaning  of  the  woi-ds,  Would  very  seldom  be  the  true  meaning. 
Even  in  the  sober  historic  language  of  the  New  Testament,  when  w 
i-ead  of  ships  on  the  lake  of  Tiberias,  and  women  grinding  at  the  mill, 
if  we  were  to  t*ike  the  words  and  attach  to  them  the  obvious  manning, 
corresponding  to  matters  as  they  are  at  the  presont  day,  we  would  form 
a  most  erroneous  notioji  of  the  ships  and  flouring  mills  of  Galilee.     It 
seems  to  be  the  plain  meaning  of  one  passage,  that  the  earth  is  an 
extended  plain  supporte.l  by  pillars,  which  tremble  at  the  rebuke  of 
Jehovah.     That  is  poetic  language,  and  was  never  designed  to  teach 
any  other  science  than  that  the  MajcvStic  God  is  glorious  in  might;  but 
the  infallible  Church  believed  it  literally,  and  persecuted,  till  he  recanted 
his   heresj',   the  unfortunate  philosopher  who  asserted,  on  scientific 
gi'Ounds,  that  the  earth  was  a  globe,  careering  through  space  with 
inconceivable  velocity  in  its  appointed  orbit  round  the  sun.     It  seemed 
the  obvious  meaning  of  another  passage  that  the  stars  would  fall  into 
the  earth,  and  the  whole  universe  rush  to  ruin  on  the  great  day  of  the 
Lord.     I  read  an  old  sermon  once,  i  n  which  this  doctri  ne  was  propou  nded 
in  the  most  serious  style  imaginable.    Yet^  if  the  same  statements  were 
made  now,  probably  few  men  could  repress  a  smile  at  the  preacher's 
simplicity,  if  they  could  suppress  their  contempt  at  the  preacher's 
ignorance ;  for  it  is  an  ascertained  fact.,  that  there  are  heavenly  bo<lie8 
of  a  magnitude  so  far  exceeding  that  of  the  earth,  that  you  might  {is 
well  8pe>ik  of  the  great  lakes  being  poured  into  a  draw-well,  as  of  the 
stars  falling  into  the  earths 

In  like  manner,  I  think  that  the  meaning  we  might  bo  ready  to 
attach  to  those  descriptions  of  events,  that  are  to  transpire  at  the 
Ushering  in  of  the  day  of  the  Lord — the  meaning  that  we  might  think 
the  plain  reading  made  obvious  and  indisputable,  may  not  be  the  real 
meaning  after  all.  And,  in  order  to  maintain  this  position,  it  is  not  at 
all  necessary  to  resolve  the  expressions  into  figures,  far  less  to  dissolve 
them  into  unmeaning  verbiage. 


\ 


AKD  THE  NEW  tlARTfl. 


Id 


Thus,  ID  regftrd  to  the  phrase,  "  New  Earth ;"  a  slnnor  here  saved 
by  Christ,  and  regenerated  by  the  Spirit  of  Goa,  is  called  in  Scripture, 
"A  new  man"  with  perfect  propriety,  though  he  is  the  same  person 
Btill,  only  changed  by  grace — •*  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  his  mind." — ■ 
Now,  why  might  not  this  old  earth,  restored  by  God  to  pristine  beauty, 
and  adapted  for  the  reception  of  holy  inhabitants,  be  called  with  equal 
propriety,  "  a  New  Earth  ?"  If  a  sainted  spirit,  now  with  God,  can  be 
re-united  to  the  body  that  was  mortal  once,  but,  that  shall  be  immortal 
then  ;  if  that  new  man  in  the  highest  sense,  can  be  the  same  who  hung 
a  dying  thiwf  beside  Jesus,  and  heard  Him  say  in  his  hour  of  agony, 
"To-day  shalt  thou  he  with  me  in  paradise;"  if  God  can  work  such 
marvellous  changes  on  men,  Why  could  He  not  work  rn  analogous 
change  upon  this  earth;  and  if  He  did,  would  it  not  be,  in  truth,  «*a 
New  Earth  ?"  With  respect  to  the  (juotations  from  Psalm  cii.  and 
Isjiiah,  about  the  heavens  vanishing  away ; — earth  waxing  old  like  a 
garment; — changing; — perishiwg; — can  it  be  difficult  for  anyone  gifted 
with  ordinary  intelligence,  to  suppose  that  the  change  wrought  on  the 
present  state  of  things,  which  is  probably  all  that  is  meant,  may 
be  a  revolution  so  complete,  bn  ught  about  by  a  catastrophe  so  over* 
whelming,  and  resulting  in  a  tr  msformation  so  glorious,  as  to  realize  in 
the  most  peifoct  manner  the  predictions  of  the  inspired  writers? 

The  mankind  which  God  created  at  fir%t  is  the  mankind  of  to-day* 
The  earth  He  formed,  is  the  earth  we  dwell  in  now.  Yet  when  man  cast 
away  his  crown  of  beauty,  and  was  excluded  from  paradise,  from  God,  and 
heavenly  beings;  when  the  very  ground  was  cursed  for  his  sake,  he 
became,  in  a  sad  sense,  a  very  different  man  from  what  he  had  been; 
and  that  earth  became  another  and  a  very  different  earth's—old  things 
passed  away  then,  all  things  became  new,  to  man's  bitter  experience.— 
•So  once  again,  when  redemption  is  completed>  and  the  day  of  con- 
summation has  come,  if  God  were  to  take  His  curse  from  earth,  and 
place  on  it  his  blessing;  if  He  were  to  form  new  and  intimate  con- 
nexions between  that  earth  and  the  heavenly  world ;  if  He  established 
new  relations  between  Himself  and  His  ransomed  creatures,  and  between 
these  and  all  holy  creatures, — might  we  not  say,  old  heaven  and  earth 
have  passod  away,  and  a  new  world  has  begun  ?  So  also  the  explicit 
statements  of  the  Apostle  Peter,  respecting  the  melting  of  the  elements 
with  fervent  heat, — the  burning  up  of  earth  and  the  works  therein, — and 
the  dissolution  of  these  things,  may  be  verified  to  the  letter,  all  on 
the  supposition  that  this  globe  nuiy  become  hereafter  the  fit  abode  of 
iutelligent  and  happy  creatui'es.     Even  now  this  solid  globe,  as  wo  eaH 


16 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


it,  has  nothing;  solid  about  it,  but  its  covering  or  surface;  a  covering  so 
thin  in  comparison  with  its  diameter,  as  to  he  fitly  culled  the  crust  of 
the  earth,  though  on  it  are  reared  the  lofty  mountains,  and  in  it  deep 
oceans  scoop  their  bed.    And,  it  is  conjectured  that  beneath  that  crust, 
iilling  the  vast  abyss,  is  fire  that  has  burned  since  the  world  began; — 
literally  elements  molten  with  fervent  heat.     Beside  us,  beneath  our 
L'iit,   may  be  the  tremendous  agent  raging,  ready  to  break  through 
the  barriera  which  confine  it,  to  lick  up  with  all  devouring  flame  the 
earth  that  now  is,  and  the  works  therein,  whenever  God  sliall  give  the 
Word,     We  have  seeming  evidence  for  this  in  the  plutonic  rocks  up- 
]ieave<l  from  their  pla(.-e  at  earth's  deep  foundations  by  tlie  force  of 
that  iriteiii.nl  tire, — in  the  string  of  active  and  extinct  volcanoes  which 
engirdle  tL.^  globe, — and  in  the  earth»make'8  shock,  fo  justly  regarded 
with  direst  aj^prehension.     And  we  know  that  convulsions  and  changes 
have  taken  j  lace  upon  this  globe  before,  and  that  fire,  "  fervent  heat," 
has  played  its  part  in  the  re[)eate(l  revc^lutions  which  have  occnred,  ere 
yet  the  earth  was  made  the  abode  of  man.    Why  may  it  not  act  once 
more  in  the  final  revcilMtion,  and  become  an  agent  in  the  reconstructing 
of  a  glorious  eaiih  for  gloiified  inhabitants?     I'liat  would  be  but  the 
crowning  act  of  a  series  already  known  to  have  transpired.     Says  the 
celel   ated,    and  now  lamented  Hugh  Miller,  "By  piecing  the  two 
records,"  (that  revealed  in  Scripture,  and  that  written  in  the  rocks,) 
"  tog<ither,  records  which,  however  widely  geologists  may  mistake  the 
<me,  or  coiiimentatoi-s  misunderstand  the  other,  have  emanated  from  the 
same  Great  Author,  wo  learn  that  in  slow  and  solemn  majesty  has  period 
succeeded  period  in  the  history  of  earth,  each  in  succession  usherin''' 
in  a  higher  and  yet  higher  scene  of  existence,  ....  we  learn  that  this 
passing  scone  is  not  the  final  one,  in  the  long  series,  but  merely  the  last 
of  the  preliminary  scenes;  and  that  jtoriod,"  (the  final  one,)  "to  which 
the  bygone  ages,  incalculable  in  amount,  with  all  their  well-proportioned 
gradations  of  lieing,  form  the  imposing  vestibule,  shall  have  perfection 
for  its  occupant,  and  eternity  for  its  duration." 

But  may  not  *he  Apostle,  in  speaking  of  dissolving  elements,  &c..  bo 
employing  the  old  pro}»lietic  meta]»horssiniply  todescribetho  metamor- 
phosis, cliielly  ot  a  moral  kind,  which  ]tassing  on  men,  shall  complftely 
fhange  tlie  old  into  a  now  world  :'  So  scripture  may  be  fidfilled,  and  tliis 
old  earth  made  new,  as  munis  made  a  new  creature,  may  be  tlie  blessed 
/ibodeof  its  redeemed  and  holy  iniiabitant^.  How  interesting  the  thought ! 
(lod  made  this  earth  very  good.  Must  He  annihilate  it  ?  Has  Ho 
been  baffled  1>y  the  po^vor  of  evil?     It  is  ruined  now.     How  worthy 


AND  THE  NEW  EABTH. 


ir 


<^  Him  to  restore  the  old  fabric  as  Ho  redeems  those  who  dwelt  therein ! 
All  men  had  their  home  here,  ^very  s^ot  of  earth  ia  hallowed  or 
d^crated.  Each  foot  of  its  surface  shall  be  known  and  interesting  to 
solTie  one  of  the  multitude  no  man  can  number.  How  kind  of  God, 
if  He  presented  to  man  as  his  eternal  happy  home  that  earth,  with 
tlu2  atains  of  its  battle  fields,  deas  of  infamy,  thrones  of  iniquity,  and 
Gvihennas  of  every  kind,  all  washed  away, — lit  up  by  heaven's  sunlight, 
-■^nd  its  scenes  where  quiet  well-doing  sung  its  hymn  of  praise  to 
God,  where  patient  suffering  said,  "Thy  will  bo  done,"  where  heroic 
devotion  stood  alone  for  truth, — all  its  Bethels,  Bethesdas,  and  its 
Calvary,  known,  and  shining  with  a  lustre  such  as  was  never  seen  in 
the  olden  time!  What  a  world  of  wonders  it  would  he  for  all  to  look 
Ui^on,  and  learn,  and  improve,  and  adore. 

This,  however,  is  but  opinion, — it  may  be, — it  is  likely ;  but  what 
13  of  greater  consequence  is  this, — thore  shall  be  *>a  new  earth  wherein 
dwelleth  righteousness" — a  terrestrial  abode — a  proper  rest,  and 
field  for  exertion,  for  immortal  men.  There  shall  be  again,  may  we 
not  suppose,  verdant  plains,  cultivated  fields,  mountains  rising  to  the 
clouds,  rivers  runnmg  to  the  sea,  oceans  uurufftcd  by  storms,  and  laving 
with  crystal  waves  shores,  which  goodness,  and  peac'3,  and  love  have 
made  their  own  ?  There  shall  be  again,  may  we  not  think,  populous 
cities,  busy  marts,  congregations  of  holy  worshippers,  and  happy 
homes?  And  that  bright  world  shall  be  peopled  by  a  race  claiming 
kindred  with  the  skies— God's  chosen,  and  redeemed,  and  adopted 
children,  all  bearing  the  lineaments  of  the  Father  in  heaven— all  united 
ia  brotherhood  to  Jesus  and  to  one  another -^all  abounding  in  the  fruits 
of  righteousness,  to  the  praise  of  restoring  Love ! 

What!  work  and  commerce!  the  same  troublous  life  over  again! 
Wherj  thon  the  rest — the  eternal  Sa'jb:iths— rthe  unceasing  sound  of 
jjolden  harps?  All  that  shall  be,  in  truth,  but  in  another  manner  than 
most  men  suppose.  The  rest  and  the  service  of  heaven,  and  the 
dreamy  inanitiei  which  weakness  has  fondly  depicted  as  the  ecstacy  of 
bliss,  will  be  found  to  have  nothing  in  -eommon.  The  New  EJarth  will 
be  the  abode  of  J|f(j«. 


4.  In  tliat  now  earth  there  wilj  be  found  provision  for  perfected 
humanity — ralimeut  and  exercise  for  all  its  inhabitants — having  resptjct 
to  the  physical,  intellectual,  and  emotional,  as  well  as  the  moral  nature 
of  the  new  man, 

All  derived  life  is  supported  by  nutriment  adapted  for  it,  providetl 
B 


18 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


by  God,  and  to  bo  labored  for.  No  cbange  of  place  or  ciroum8tanc<ja— 
no  exaltation  in  the  scale  of  bein<jf,  can  alter  or  nullify  the  absolute  ami 
uni\ei-8al  law,  under  wbich  creature-life  is  placed.  That  life  origiuatft* 
iu  God,  und  is  sustained  by  God,  through  means  of  suitablo  nourish- 
ment which  He  fiu-nishes.  In  trviiisj;  to  think  of  this  kw  in  the  world 
to  come,  we  are  rc;\dy  to  judge  of  it  as  wo  see  the  of)eratiou  heiv,  and 
so  are  led  into  conceptions  so  groj^s  that,  to  escape  from  them,  wo,  in 
tft'ect,  ignore  the  exiitence  and  o]>eriitions  of  the  law  in  tlie  future  state 
altogether.  Wo  cannot  think  of  f*^>otl,  now  so  necessary  to  prol(MTu; 
existence,  without  thinking  of  waste,  reproduction,  and  decay,  which 
retarded  for  a  while,  at  length  bailies  all  etlbrts  to  stay  it,  proceeds 
faster  and  farther  than  all  restoratives,  and  terminates  in  death.  Man 
is  mortal  licre,  ami  Death  lui-ks  iu  every  thing  we  meet,  and  touch,  aixl 
taste.  Giowlh  and  honlth,  the  evitlenees  of  morUd  life  in  its  best  e.stat<?, 
are  assurances  of  coming  death.  The  infant's  course  from  biOplessneas 
to  manhood  is  a  piogress  to  tlie  grave.  And  the  maturity  of  life  is  but 
the  half  way  hous-o  between  the  birth  and  the  last  quiet  sleep  of  mor- 
tality under  "  the  clods  of  the  valley." 

But  there  will  be  no  death,  wheru  just  men  made  perfect  dwell ;  and 
so  we  have  generally  leaped  to  the  irrational  and  unsoriptural  conclusion, 
thai  there  shall  be  no  need  for  what  sustains  life  in  the  future  world. 
1<o  bread! 

Now,  even  here,  "  man  docv;  not  live  by  bread  alone,"  &c,  The 
mortal  part  has  food  providetl  for  it,  or  it  dies, — and  the  8])irit  must 
have  food  pro\ided  for  it,  or  it  too,  dies — as  sjtirits  die.  And  that 
spiritual  food  we  must  teek  and  toil  for,  ere  we  obtain  it,  just  as  in  thc.- 
case  of  the  natr.ral  food.  "Labor  not,"  says  Christ,  "  for  the  bread 
which  peri.dittji,  but  for  that,  Avhich  endureth  unto  everlasting  life." — 
And  so  iu  the  world  to  come,  there  will  be  food  for  glorified  humanity : 
— the  spiritual  body,  the  unfettered  intellect,  and  the  sjxytless  soul,  all 
sh;dl  have  nouv^shiiient  suited  to  their  nature,  and  labored  for.  There 
shall  be  industry  in  the  new  earth, — occasion  for  it,  calls  to  it,  and 
j)leasure  iu  it.  And  then  and  thu-,  shall  man  attain  to  the  chief  end 
of  his  being,  Avbich  is  to  enjoy  God,  and  glorify  Him  with  his  hodtj, 
i'.nd  Ms  spirit,  v.hieh  are  God's. 

Here,  Ir.bor  is  indij-pensable  to  happiness  and  healthy  existence,  as 
well  as  to  usefulness.  Duty  to  God  cannot  be  dissevered  from  duty  we 
owe  to  oiuselve?  and  fellow -men.  And  duty  to  God  consists,  not  in 
devotion  aloiie,  but  in  devotion  and  well-doing.  True  religion  is  not 
confined  to,  nor  exhaustetl  by  the  exercise  of  divine  woi-ship;  it  does 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH. 


19 


not  end  with  with  the  eoul's  most  intimate  communings  with  Him  w1k> 
is  enthroned  ou  "the  mercy  seat;"  rather,  it  obtains  there  a  stimulus 
and  sti-engtii  for  the  prosecution  of  that  work,  which  is  at  once  its 
essence  and  its  evidence,  •'  the  doing  justly,  and  loving  mercy,  and 
walking  htmbly  with  Ck>d."  True  n^ligion  does  not  scowl  with  misan- 
thropic aversion  upon  innocent  recreation,  or  the  ebulition  of  joyous  feel- 
ings which  God  has  implanted  in  man;  it  does  not  prefer  tlie  lierniit's 
cell  to  the  wide  field  of  the  world  which  calls  all  our  energies  into  i)lay ; 
it  does  not  stigmatixeartas  devilisb,  science  as  godless,  lawful  employment 
as  secukr  and  profane ;  but  it  comes  with  a  hallowing  leaven  to  imbue 
and  consecrate  all  art,  all  science,  all  work  to  the  Great  Jehovah.  And 
it  constrains  its  subjects,  in  Uamelessness  of  life,  in  kindne-<s  of  heart, 
in  industrious  occupation,  in  assiduous  cultivation  of  the  mind,  in 
cheerful  well-doing,  and,  if  need  be,  in  patient  suffering,  as  much  as  in 
the  temple  where  they  sing  His  praise,  to  glorify  their  God. 

This  princij>le  iu  Umq  religion,  is  not  confined  to  this  world,  nor 
will  it  Ite  unknown  wlien  this  world  has  parsed  away.  On  all  God's 
works  in  the  universe  is  h  ritten  what  he  that  runs  might  read,  Work; 
and  Worship.  God  Hinii^elf,  \vho  dwelleth  on  liiorh,  "  who  needeth 
not  anything,  seeing  that  be  giveth  to  ail  life,  and  breath,  and  all. 
things,"  Avorks  unceasingly.  He  is,  aud  Ho  shall  be  through  eternity, 
the  God  that  doeth  wonders  ly  His  strong  right  arm.  Angels  who 
isee  His  face  and  sing  His  pi-ai.-e,  work,  as  Lap[)y,  as  truly  His  servants, 
jis  honourably  engaged  when  employed  in  work  in  a  far  distant  world, 
as  when  bowed  before  the  throne.  Man,  iu  his  state  of  innocence, 
when  he  did  glorify  and  enjoy  his  God,  was  set  to  till  the  garden  of 
Eden.  And  when  Eden  is  restored — when  the  new  earth  is  peopled 
hy  its  holy  inhabitants,  thei'o  will  bo  work  in  it  for  their  hands,  and 
heads,  aud  hearts — a  service  of  doing,  and  a  service  of  song,  which 
together  shall  form  the  life  exercise,  the  felicity,  and  the  gloiy  of  the 
ransomed  throng. 

As  it  would  be  silly  and  presumptuous  to  pretend  to  tell 
what  specific  works  shall  engage  the  powers  of  the  glorified  body,  so  it 
is  equally  beyond  our  ability  to  tell  what  prospects  shall  open  before  the 
unclouded  mind  of  tlie  new  man.  Here  the  human  mi  nd  is  charactenzc"  I 
by  restless  activity  and  progressive  advancement  and  enlargement: — we 
have  instincts  as  have  the  lower  animals: — we  have  intuitions  peculiai 
to  us  as  the  intelligent  otlspring  of  the  all-creating  spirit : — and  we 
liave  an  acquired  knowledge  derived  from  the  stores  aud  traditions  of 
the  past,  which  is  increased  continually,  by  new  research  and  disoon-eiy 


[f 


so 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


I  (i: 
'  Hi 


What  would  we  be  if,  notwithstapdiDg  all  that  has  been  lost  in  the  fe» 
votutionfl  of  time,  we  had  not  the  riches  of  thought  of  former  nges  to 
call  our  own  ?  What  would  we  be  if  we  had  no  food  for  thought  every 
day,  and  no  occasion  nor  call  for  ingenuity  and  study  1  What  would 
we  be  if  we  had  not  realms,  extending  farther  than  the  distant  star, 
and  deeper  than  the  abyss,  whither,  when  every  other  faculty  fails,  we 
can  betake  ourselves  on  the  wings  of  imagination  ?  Yet  here  we  are 
limited  on  every  side;  there  is  a  bound  which  no  created  intellect  can 
pass  :'^there  may  be  mental  progression  to  a  certain  point,  and  the  ma^s 
of  men,  by  education  and  culture,  may  advance  from  their  present 
standing  to  a  height  that  seems  lost  in  tbe  heavens,  but  men  have 
reached  that  point,  and  mon  shall  never  occupy  a  higher  here.  But 
there,  in  that  new  earth,  there  will  be  a  wider  liekl,  a  clearer  vision,  and 
new  and  unheard  of  means  of  advancement.  There  will  be  minds  en- 
larged, engaged  in  deep  research  and  great  thought, — and  over,  as  new 
wondere  break  upon  the  understanding,  filled  with  a  mightier  and  more 
glowing  devotion.  There  will  be  no  limit  to  science,  there  will  be  a 
universe  to  furnish  facts,  and  the  intellect,  though  still  of  necessity  a 
finite  intellect,  will  start  in  its  explorations  from  a  higher  stand-point, 
fiud  career  a  gigantic  intelligence,  before  which  Newton's  would  shrink 
to  comparative  imbecility,  through  an  expanse  that  might  be  called  in- 
finitude— eternally  progressing  in  the  knowledge  and  enjoyment  of 
good. 

And  there  shall  the  heart  of  perfect  man  have  its  sweetest,  and 
purest,  and  noblest  emotions  called  forth.  There  will  be  friendships 
never  decaying,  never  deceinng,  never  heart-breaking  by  sharp,  abrupt 
severance  of  ties  that  bind  souk  together,  never  heart  withering  and 
crushing,  by  lingering  tortures  slowly  rending  strand  by  strand  of  the 
uniting  cord. 

There  will  be  pure  relationships — more  dear  than  tlie  mast  endear- 
ing on  earth, — not  restricted  as  necessarily  now,  to  one  true  heart,  or 
to  one  little  band,  but  extending  to  all  the  members  of  tho  family  of 
God,  with  thrilling  memories  of  the  past,  and  with  undimmed  and  un- 
divided hopes  of  an  ever  brightening  future. 

There  will  be  scenes  of  surpassing  loveliness  to  molt  tho  spirit  with 
the  overpowering  sense  of  beauty,  and  sceties  of  surpassing  grandeur 
to  inspire  the  spirit  with  the  exalted  and  sublime.  And  there  will  be 
bounties  and  blessings— ra  profusion  of  good  in  never-ceasing,  never- 
lessening  stream  from  God  the  Father  of  all — ^awakening  ever  more  re- 
collections of  His  goodness  and  mercy  in  the  days  of  the  pilgrimage — ■ 


F  iii 


kTKt)  THE  NEW  fiAllTfl. 


21 


exciting  evermore  grand  thoughts  of  love  for  the  Greatest  and  Best  of 
Being*— opening  evermore  new  fountains  of  grateful  emotion  to  flow 
f  Ilim,  and  of  tcnderest  affection  for  all  fellow-partakers  of  that  grace 
aad  glory>. 

One  dass  of  emotions  alone  \' iU  find  noil  h^r  place  nor  provision  there, 
though  beautiful  and  necessary  in  tiiis  present  state ;  there  will  be  no 
pity,  no  compassion,  nor  sighs,  nor  tears,  nor  heavy  hearts ; — none  needs 
commisseratioB  there.  No  pain,  sickness,  want,  nor  woe,  no  calamities, 
no  partings,  nor  bitterness  of  soul  in  the  happy  land.  If  ye  would 
prize  "the  blessing  of  him  that  is  ready  to  perish,"  seek  it  now;  if 
ye  would  do  good  as  ye  have  ojiportunity,  do  it  now;  for  there  will  bo 
«o  poor  and  needy  ones  there  I  Nor  will  there  be  indignation>  nor 
even  just  resentment  there,  because  there  shall  be  no  craft,  nor  wrong, 
nor  one  unholy  in  the  land  of  the  blest* 

In  that  new  earth  there  "dwdleth  rigkteousneis.'"  Simple,  but 
gmnd  expressive  words.  Thorough,  perfect  rifjhieousness  is  there. — 
RiGiiTNESs  with  HO  WR0NGNE88  at  all !  Righteousness,  not  looking  down 
from  heaven  high,  as  it  did  upon  old  earth,  as  if  it  wished  to  alight 
but  could  find  no  place  for  the  solo  of  its  foot,  but  dwelling  at  hume 
in  that  fair  world.  Righteousness,  not  in  the  breasts  of  some  exalted 
saints,  or,  as  once  on  earth,  in  Emmanuel  alone,  but  the  very  spirit-hfe 
and  moral  essence  of  ail  redeemed  humanity.  Righteousness, — the 
complement  of  all  virtues,- — the  consummation  of  all  graces 
— the  crown  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give,  and  which 
they  all  shall  wear,  who,  looking  to,  and  for  Jesus,  fight  the  good  fight, 
and  finish  their  course,  keeping  the  faith. 

Such  or  such  like,  we  gather  from  the  intiinations  of  God's 
word,  and  the  survey  of  His  works,  shall  be  the  "  new  earth."  And 
such  the  character  and  joys  of  its  blessed  inhabitants.  The  Father 
loves  them.  And  they  are  beginning  to  learn  "  what  is  the  length  and 
breadth,  and  depth  and  height  of  the  love  of  God  which  paaseth  un- 
derstanding." 

Thus  far,  our  contemplation  of  the  Christian's  heritage  in  "  the 
wwld  to  come,"  has  been  confined  to  the  new  earth  and  its  inhabitants. 
In  order  to  complete  the  view,  to  form  and  fix  in  our  minds  a  more 
e&tiro  and  definite  conception  of  the  future  state  of  glory,  it  is  recjuisite 
that  we  next  give  attention  to  the  "  new  heavens"  as  distinguished  from, 
and  yet  i^nnccted  with  that  •*  new  earth."  In  endeavouring  to  puisue 
the  cou.ae  thus  indicated,  let  us,  as  before,  take  the  Bible  for  our  guide, 


22 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


and  by  cautious  induction  try  to  gather  together  and  underatand  tb« 
intimations  it  aflfords,  and  then  look  upon  the  conchisions  to  which  they 
lead. 

By  the  terms  "Heaven,"  and  "Heavens,"  Scripture  designates; — 

1.  The  firmament — the  atmofipherlc  expanse  surrounding  the 
earth,  in  which  the  light  and  heat  of  Ihe  heavenly  Inxlies  are  dittust-u, 
where  the  clouds  are  formeil,  whence  the  rains  deseeud,  .and  many 
varied  natmal  agencies  are  in  operation  for  the  benefit  of  earth  and  its; 
occupants.  "  God  called  the  firmament,  heavon,"  Creu-  i.  8.  "  God 
give  thee  of  the  dew  of  heaven,"  Gen.  xxvii.  28.  "  The  Leaven  that 
is  over  thy  head  bhall  be  brass,"  Dent,  xxviii.  23.  "  See  if  1  will  not 
open  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing."  Mai.  iii.  iO. 

2.  The  stariy  woi-lds,  as  .s(^cn  from  eartli,  and  the  creatures  of 
God  who  may  have  their  dwelling  in  them.  "  Thou  liast  made  heaven, 
the  heaven  of  heavens,  Avith  all  their  host,  ....  and  the  host  cf 
heaven  woi-shipjx^th  Thee,"  Neh.  ix.  6.  "When  the  morning  staiv. 
Bang  together,  and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy,"  Job.  xxxviii.  T. 
"  He  doeth  according  to  His  will  in  the  army  of  heaven,"  Dan.  iv.  35-. 

3.  The  pui-ity,  happiness,  and  other  excellencies  of  nnfnilen,  and 
of  saved  and  sanctified  intelligent  beings, — as  lioly  angels,  and  redeemed 
men.  "Ix't  heaven  and  earth  praise  Kim,"  Ps.  Ixix.  34.  "Joy  shall 
};e  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth,"  Lnke  xv.  7.  "The 
kino-dom  of  heaven  is  at  hand,"  Matt.  iv.  17.  "The  kingdom  of  God 
h  within  you,"  Luke  x\ii.  21.  "The  kingdom  of  God  is  not  moat 
nnd  drink;  but  righteousness,  and  j>eace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost," 
Kom.  xiv.  17. 

4.  The  throne  and  temple  of  the  Divine  Majesty,  where  infinitely 
beyond  all  other  manifestations,  tl>e  glory  of  Jeliovah  is  displnyed, — 
"Is  not  God  in  the  hefglit  of  heaven,"  Job  xxii.  12.  "The  heaven  is 
my  throne,  and  the  earth  is  my  footstool,"  Isii.  Ixvi.  1.  "Hear  thou 
in  heaven  Thy  dwelling  place,"  1  Kings,  viii.  30.  "My  FatherV 
house,"  John  xiv.  2. 

Such  are  the  prominent  distinctive  sigjiifications  of  the  words, 
"heaven"'  and  "  heavens,"  in  the  Scri]>tures;  and,  kee[)ingthem  in  mind, 
Biirely  we  will  not  stray  widely  from  the  truth,  nor  be  chargeable  witli 
rnsh  assumption,  if  we  suppose  that  the  heaven  of  the  future  will  be 
"  new  heavens"  in  each  of  the  senses  mentioneil,  and  that  we  have,  in 
the  combination  of  them  all,  a  description  of  wh.at  these  "new  heavens?* 
jihall  bo  to  the  inhabitmats  of  the  earth  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness. 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH. 


23 


fit  least,  approximating  as  nearly  to  the  actual  as  it  wonld  be  possible 
for  us  to  understand  in  the  pi^sent  state. 

Following  the  method  suggested  by  the  supposition  just  made, 
our  thoughts  will  for  a  while  yet,  be  necessarily  directed  to  the  new 
oarth  and  those  who  dwell  tlierein,  but  to  them  as  related  to  the  new 
heavens,  and  as  affected  by  the  influoncos,  physical  and  mitral,  prococil- 
ing  thence — the  influences  exerted  by  the  celestial  upon  the  terrestrial 
in  the  world  to  come. 

I.  We  may  think,  then,  of  the  "  new  heavens"  as  a  new  firma- 
ment, an  upper  region  of  aii-  and  azure  sky  encircling  tlie  renovated 
world,  A  heaven  high,  presenting  to  the  gaze  of  the  dwellers  below 
a  celestial  glory,  fixr  transcending  that  of  the  heavens  we  now  see, 
shedding  over  the  new  earth  light,  and  color,  and  ]>eaut3',  and  exerting 
ou  it  sweeter  influences  than  Orion  and  the  Pleiades,  than  sun,  ;;nd 
moon,  and  the  starry  host.s  have  done  in  the  present  ocouomy.  Tlie 
Leavens  and  the  earth  that  are  now,  or  as  now  constituted,  arc  to  papa 
away.  "All  these  things  shall  be  dissolved."  But  that  predicted 
catastrophe  is  not  to  bring  chaos  back  again,  it  is  to  bring  in  tlie 
cosmos.  It  is  to  be  the  closing  scene  in  a  long  series  of  woDdevud 
e\ents  all  shaded  by  imperfection  and  sin,  and  the  opening  scone  in 
another  series  of  wonderful  events,  wh'ch  are  to  unfold  in  tlie  endless 
ages  without  a  shadow  of  any  kind  to  darken  thorn.  It  is  to  be  the 
<lestructi6n  of  the  degraded,  the  conclusion  of  the  temporal,  and  the 
establishment  of  the  perfect  and  the  eternal.  This  is  the  redeir.piion 
for  which  all  nature  waits;  "the  whole  creation groanoth  and  travailcth 
in  pain  together,"  working  towards  this  consummati'^'n.  For  this  tlie 
Christian  prays,  "Thy  kingdom  come" — tho  restitution  of  all  things 
good  and  lovely  and  true,  which  were  last,  or  stained  by  sin  on  earth, 
and  the  gathering  of  all  things  into  one  by  Christ. 

Now  whether  we  assume  the  " new  earth"  to  be  this  old  oa;tli 
renovated,  or  another  globe,  is  of  no  consepaence,  does  not  aftcct  tlie  con- 
clusion to  which  we  are  led,  namely,  that  the  change  to  be  brought,  abnut 
at  the  final  day  will  be  universal  and  complete,  a  change  to  the  lk>,st  pos- 
sible condition  of  all  things;  and,  therefore,  the  heavenly  IxiUcs  that 
look  down  upon  the  earth,  tlie  atmospheric  influences  tliatafle/'!  it,  and 
its  own  surface  dia|X)9ition  which,  in  connection  with  the  atmo.^phevo, 
dtutermines  the  chai'acter  of  climate,  shall  all  be  so  ordered  and  arranged 
by  the  wise  and  loving  God,  as  to  produce  results  at  once  transccn- 
dently  beautiful  and  beneficial. 


u 


I'HE  l^EW  HEAViJirs 


::B 


In  the  syrtem  of  worlds  to  which  our  earth  belongfii  there  8Ji9 
planets  at  a  vastly  greater  distance  from  the  sun  than  othere,  and  con- 
sequently prevented  from  sharing,  to  the  same  extent,  in  the  benefits  of 
solar  light  and  heat.  But  this  deficiency  seems  to  be  compensated  by 
the  number  of  secondary  planets  with  which  they  are  supplied  ;  one 
has  four,  another  six^  and  another  seven  satelites ;  one,  if  not  more,  ha» 
a  luminous  ring  or  belt  around  it,  maintaining  peihaps  continual  day 
in  that  globe.  Already  we  know  of  worlds  of  which  it  might  almost 
be  said,  "  Their  sun  goes  not  down,  neither  does  thdr  moon  withdraw 
itself:"  and  in  some  such  way  God's  new  earth  may  possess  an  encircling 
celestial  glory,  a  new  firmament,  with  lights  therein  above  the  bright- 
ness of  the  sun,  and  literally  "  no  night  there." 

The  earth,  &>  at  present  constituted,  is  subject  to  various  atmos- 
pheric influences,  which,  being  in  their  turn  modified  by  the  surface- 
conditions  of  different  areas,  are  in  certain  circumstances  baneful,  though 
obviously  they  are  designed  to  be,  and  mainly  are,  highly  beneficial 
and  indispensable  to  natural  life  of  evciy  kind.    We  have  warm,  cold 
and  temperate  climsstes.    There  are  hot  winds  and  sea-currents  which 
convey  Warmth,  and  minister  to  life  in  cold  regions;  and  cold  winds 
and  currents  which  temper  the  heat  of  tropical  climes,  and  invigorate 
their  languid  inhabitants.     The  burning  simoom  generated  in  the 
parched  desert,  sweeps  on  in  its  destructive  career,  withering  vegetation 
and  prostrating  roan.    The  bitter  northern  blast  brings  frost,  and  snow, 
and  driving  sleet,  spreading  o'er  earth  winter's  dreariness,  benumbing 
the  unsheltered  traveller,  and  increasing  the  hardships  and  woes  of 
poverty,  and  sickness,  and  old  age.    And  the  malaria  arising  from  the 
rank  growth.*  and  putridities  of  the  steaming  marsh,  infects  with  its 
fe\er-breath  the  dwellers  in  the  valleys  over  which  it  hovere,  and  some- 
tifnes  starts  the  pestilence  to  traverse  country  after  country  around  the 
globe,  turning  everywhere  happy  homes  into  houses  of  mourning. 

In  respect  to  these  phenomena,  we  know  for  most  part  by  what 
natural  causes  they  are  produced,  and  undei-stand  how,  by  other  con* 
fv >rmation,  and  disposition,  and  level  of  land  and  water,  the  evils  referred 
to  might  be  mitigated  and  even  done  away. 

Thus,  in  this  land  we  are  expased  to  extreme  heat  and  cold  in  tbo 
alternate  seasons.  Sailing  due  east  across  the  Atlantic,  wo  reach  the 
Sdtith  of  France,  and  find  the  most  genial  climate  of  Europe;  while 
considerably  farther  north  than  the  parallel  cm  which  we  are  situated, 
in  the  British  islands,  such  a  breadth  of  divergence  in  the  temperature 
letween  summer  and  winter  as  we  are  subjected  to,  is  unknown.    The 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH, 


25 


t-eason  of  this  is,  that  to  the  north  of  us  the  broad  continent  extends 
far  within  the  arctic  circle  to  the  frozen  ocean^  with  no  warm  sea-current 
flowing  towards  it,  nor  soft  winds  blowing  over  it,  to  mitigate  the 
eererity  of  the  rigorous  wintei*;  and  to  the  south  of  us  there  is  the 
broad  continent  again,  not  intersected  by  cooling  seas  nor  lofty  moun- 
tain ranges,  to  impart  a  freshnes3  to  the  heated  air,  in  the  summer 
season.  The  Gulf  of  Mexico,  scooped  out  of  the  centre  of  America, 
forms  a  great  sea-basin  whose  waters,  heated  as  in  a  cauldron,  flow  out 
and  run  northward,  ^^>en,  diverted  by  the  projecting  land,  more  easterly 
towards  north-western  Europe,  and  give  those  regions  their  mildness  of 
climate  in  comparison  with  ours. 

Agair,  an  arid  desert  of  utter  desolation  covere  almost  the  whole 
extent  of  Northern  Africa;  while  farther  south,  nearer  to  the  equator, 
tnore  directly  under  the  hot  sun  on  that  same  continent,  there  are,  it  is 
now  known,  the  most  fertile  lands  and  as  fine  a  climate  as  is  to  be  found. 
I'he  reason  is,  that  the  north  is  a  depressed,  flat  expanse,  unwatered, 
burned  up;  while  the  south  is  more  elevated,  with  great  lakes,  and 
mountain  ranges  whose  towering  peaks  are  mantled  with  snow,  and 
down  whose  side?  streams  are  running  to  rivers  winding  through  rich 
vaHeys  to  the  sea. 

Even  hero  now,  a  cliange  in  the  conformation  of  continents,  an 
altered  disposition  of  the  earth's  surface — its  depression  in  one  urea, 
its  elevation  in  another,  would  change  climates,  might  make  all  tem- 
perate, healthful  and  fruitftil,  and  render  every  breath  of  air  life-gi\iiig 
and  pure.     Perhaps  hko  this,  earth  would  have  been,  but  for  man's 
^ostasy:  it  i.^  not  as  it  was;  that  some  portions  of  it  now  bleak  and 
wintry  were  once  under  a  more  genial  sky  is  proved  beyond  a  doubt  by 
abundant  fossil  remains.     And  in  some  such  manner  may  the  new 
^earth  be  so  laid  out  that  **the  precious  things  of  the  heavens"  shall 
pour  down  in  affluence  on  it,  "  the  precious  fruits  brought  forth  by  the 
aun,  and  the  precious  things  put  forth  by  the  moon.'*     "  The  inhabi- 
tants shall  never  say,  We  are  sick."     Above  them  the  glorious  sky — 
the  curtain  of  God's  pavilion.    Around  them  fertility  and  adornment  on 
every  side,  with  fi-agrance  and  music  in  every  breejse.     And  beneath 
th<Mr  feet  tlie  green  sward  mottled  with  flowers,  forming  fit  carjiet  for 
thdr  mansion  in  the  Father's  house.     Such  an  earth,  with  such  a 
firmament  above  it,  would  form  in  this  sense  "  new  heavens"  for  the 
ransomed  of  the  Lord. 

2.    Turning  our  attention  next  to  the  second,  the  wider  antl 


26 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


■J 


Iriglier  signification  of  tlie  stars  and  their  inmates,  given  to  the  word 
"  heavens"  in  the  Bible, — Ave  may  think  of  the  "  new  heavens"  as  indicat- 
inii  another  element  in  the  blessedness  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  earth ; 
— that  which  will  arise  from  their  standing  in  a  new  relation  to,  and 
a  new  connection  with  s'dereal  worlds  and  the  creatures  of  God  who 
dwell  in  them. 

Such  knowledge  of  the  heavenly  bodies  as  we  can  obtain,  has 
always  been  interesting  and  useful  to  man.  The  stars,  which  seem 
to  a  superficial  observer  innumerable,  have  been  numbered — all  of 
tJioni  that  are  dificornible  by  the  unaided  vision;  but  then,  as  soon  as 
iiistruiiients  are  employed  to  nssist  the  eye,  more  and  more  appear:  the 
most  poweiful  telescope  of  recent  times  does  not  enable  us  to  discovt^r 
one  blank  in  the  immense  expanse  which  the  Creixtor  has  not  filled 
with  worlds. 

The  canopy  of  he.wen  has  been  mapped  out;  the  stars  visible  in 
it  liave  been  arranged  in  clusters  or  constellations;  and  they  have  been 
olaAsiiied  as  fixed  stars,  suns,  planets,  satellites,  comets  and  nebnhe. 
The  distance  of  many  of  tliese  bodies  from  the  earth  and  sun,  their 
miignitude  and  motions  have  been  ascertained.  A  hazy  glimpse  of 
o!^e  half  of  the  surface  of  our  moon  has  been  had.  There  is  some 
knowledge  and  more  conjecture  as  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 
iiilUience  exerte<l  upon  this  globe  by  other  orbs  singly,  and  in  various 
cor.junctions.  And,  except  that  God  created  them,  we  know  nothing 
more  of  "  the  hosts  of  heaven." 

Tiiat  these  worlds  ai-e  as  beautiful  and  weU-ordered  in  their  econo- 
mical arrangements  as  they  appear  beautiful  and  regulated  in  all  their 
movements  to  us,  we  may  well  believe;  and  that  they  are  inhabited  by 
iiiti'ljigent  creatures  it.  altogether  likely.  Every  process  of  reasoning 
tends  to  such  a  conclusion.  Wo  do  not  know,  indeed :  we  have  not 
Peon  the  inhabitants  of  other  spheres,  nor  has  it  been  revealed  in  so 
m.uiy  w  ords  that  the  stars  have  inmates.  How  little  we  know  of  God's 
works,  confined  as  we  are  to  this  speck  of  earth !  How  vast  the  range 
of  observation  and  intpiiry,  now  beyond  our  reach,  which  we  may  be 
employed  exploring  during  the  eternal  ages !  But,  tlmt  the  whoki 
heavens  are  filled  with  intelligent  and  holy  life:  that  the  beings  called 
angels  in  Scripture,  and  such  like  beings,  have  their  dwelling  among 
these  stars  that  spangle  our  sky  is  sin-ely  no  extravagant  assumption. 
And  when  the  beavens  that  now  r.,e  have  passed  away,  the  inhabittmt 
of  the  new  earth,  qualified  by  intellectual  capacity,  and  fiu-nisheil  with, 
facihties  for  advancing  iu  all  knowledge,  will  learn  in  new  conditions 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


27 


anil  relations  a  perfect  astronomy,  accompanied  with  a  biology-  of  celes- 
tial beinga  but  dimly  gucsf9ed  at  before.  For  if  these  orbs  of  heaven 
be  not  tenantless, — -and  who  can  believe  that  tlio  countless  hosts  wer** 
ci'eated  and  are  sustained  merely  for  the  purpose  of- casting  light  upon, 
and  effecting  some  mechanical  process'  in  the  sea  and  air  of  this  globe 
of  ours? — if  they  are  the  seats  of  active,  iiit«llectual,  and  spiritual  lite, — 
and  we  can  hardly  doubt  it,— then  there  will  be  intercoin*se  betwoeu 
tlu'ir  inhHl)itants  and  those  of  the  happy  earth.  There  will  be  then  a 
rocognition  of  the  unity  of  the  Avhole  family  of  God,  and  iuteroom- 
munion  between  its  members  of  every  origin.  Then  in  tlie  most  com- 
prehensive literal  sense,  the  redeemed  shall  have  "  come  unto  Mount 
Sion,  and  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly  JeruwaU-in, 
and  to  an  innumerable  company  of  angels,  to  the  general  nsseinbly  and 
church  of  the  first-born,  which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  Givl  liie, 
Judge  of  all,  an«l  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to  Josus 
the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant." 

Intercourse  with  the  whole  family  of  God;  that,  at  any  rate, 
cannot  be  questioned.  Why,  even  here,  and  now,  angels,  whatever 
kind  or  kinds  of  beings  they  be,  and  whence  soever  they  come,  can 
visit  us.  They  are  not  only  spirits  ministering  before  the  throne;  tliey 
are  guardians,  sent  forth  to  minister  to  them  who  are  heirs  of  salvation. 
Will  they  not  continue  to  visit  the  heirs  when  these  hixve  come  into 
the  possession  of  the  heritage  ?  Here  Ave  iioither  see  nor  liear  the 
heavenly  messengers,  however  beneficent  their  good  olKoes  may  ho;- 
but  there  we  shall  see  and  convei-se  with  God's  first-born  sons,  and 
acquire  a  knowledge  of  their  history  and  nature,  and  learn  from  tliens 
their  experience  and  estimate  of  God. 

How  interesting  to  think  only  of  familiar  intimacy  among  the 
retleemed  themselves!  To  listen  to  Adam  describing  the  boantv  of 
sinless  paradise, — his  fii-st  consciousness  of  guilt, — his  overwhelming 
horror  at  the  fuller  discovery  of  the  nature  of  sin, — and  his  emotions 
when  the  gracious  promise  turned  the  ten-ible  darkness  into  a  day  ol" 
hope.  To  know  Abraham  as  our  friend,  who  bore  the  honoral>le 
appellation  of  friend  of  God ;  to  hear  him  tell  of  the  olden  time  and  its 
manners, — of  the  fearful  doom  of  Sodom,— of  his  feelings  just  when  tlu^ 
angel  stiiyed  his  hand,  and  pointed  to  the  ram  caught  in  the  thieket, 
indicating  even  then  how  the  Lsimb  of  God  saves  the  chasen  seed. 
To  converse  with  Paul  about  JoAvish  sects  and  Grecian  schools:  to  hear 
from  his  own  lips  the  stoiy  of  his  conversion,  and  what  took  place  in 
the  jail  at  Philippi,  and  how  Nero  looked,  and  Rorae^  in  these  byegoB<^ 


28 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH 


days;  and  learn  all  about  his  adventures  by  field  and  flood  wberf, 
"  ihough  the  least  of  all  saints,"  to  him  was  the  grace  given  to  preach 
tlio  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.  To  understand  exactly  what  kind 
of  men  the  noble  army  of  martyrs  and  confessors  of  every  land  and 
age  were,  to  hear  them  8peak  in  their  several  ways  of  the  work  of 
grace  as  exemplified  in  their  various  hiatorieu.  And  to  meet  there  also 
the  men  that  are  yet  to  come  and  do  God's  work  on  earth, — to  talk 
with  Africans  and  Asiatics,  men  of  every  clime  and  language,  and  of 
every  stage  of  social  and  moral  progress,  that  have  done  anything  for 
Christ's  cause,  having  been  redeemed  by  Christ's  grace.  Surely  there 
will  be  deepest  interest,  and  precious  instruction  and  joy  in  all  that. 
But  besides,  glorified  mi'U  shall  have  felkwrfhip  with  angels,  with  holy 
beings  from  other — from  all  worlds :  and  the  intercourse  will  be  mutuaL 
The  blight  spirits  abotc  are  endowed  with  powers  by  which  they 
can  pass  from  world  to  world  in  God's  service.  May  we  u oc  eoncludo 
that  in  this  respect  saved  men  shall  be  "as  the  angels  of  God?"  that 
as  God's  servants  they  too  shall  be  gifted  with  faculties  enabling  them 
to  survey  God's  works  everywhere,  and  to  learn  fi'om  all  His  creatures 
now  cause  to  sing,  and  it  may  be  new  ways  of  singing  the  praises  of 
the  ijlorious  Kino;  of  earth  and  heaven. 

Recurring  to  a  statement  made  before, — all  God's  works  that  we 
can  scan  are  progressive:  development,  advancement,  characterize  them 
all.  Man  progresses  in  knowledge  and  i-eligion;  Christianity,  with  its 
principles  fully  reve^ded,  unfolds  new  beauties  and  enlarging  applica- 
tions in  each  succeeding  age.  All  tilings  are  in  motion,  and  all,  except 
sin  and  sin-cursed  beings,  are  moving  towards  a  higher  destination. 
Are  not  these  indications  and  parts  of  a  univei-si'  and  eternal  law? 
May  there  not  be  an  ascending  to  a  nobler  and  a  nobler  state  of  exist- 
ence in  the  world  to  come  ?  Is  it  a  groundless  fancy  to  suppose  that 
there  shall  be  a  ceaseless  progression,  and  transition  or  translation  fromi 
world  to  world  of  the  many  mansions  in  a  series  reaching  to  the  noblest, 
the  Holiest  of  all,  where  God  dwells  in  the  light  that  is  inaccessible  and 
full  of  glory  ? 

And  may  we  not  think  of  the  redeemed  in  the  kingdom  prepared 

for  thosn,  all  having  intercoui-se  with  all  All  filled  to  the  extent  of 
their  capacity  with  the  love  and  joy  of  God,  and  all  in  the  long  eternity 
asGOTding  in  serried  rank  to  si)here  after  sphere  of  growing  beauty, 
»eiq5k)ring  the  mansions  above  with  entrancing  delight,  and  coming  by 
turns  into  direct  and  intimate  connexion  with  every  order  of  holy 
being,  and  with  the  God  within  them  all  ?  This  would  b«  ♦'  new 
lieavens"  for  them  io  a  very  precious  sense. 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


29 


3.  Having  respect  to  the  third  class  of  significations  given  to  the 
terms  "heaven"  and  "heavens"  in  Scripture— .those  which  refer  to  the 
iqyiritual  purity,  the  (Jod-lilteness  of  saved  and  holy  creatures.  We 
jnay  next  think  of  the  **  new  heavens  "  as  denoting  the  entire  heavenly- 
mindednesa  of  those  counted  worthy  to  obtain  a  place  in  the  glorious 
kingdom  of  God, 

This  is  just  a  reference  to  perfection  of  character  again,  which  has 
been  already  noticed  in  another  connexion,  and  may  bo  therefore  dis- 
miaaed  with  brief  remark. 

Heavenly-mindedness  shall  be  the  characteristic  of  glorified  men. 
It  is  the  sentiment  and  the  mould  and  spirit  of  life  in  the  kingdom. 
From  God  who  sits  upon  the  throne,  down  through  the  ranks  of 
clierubim  and  seraphim  and  angels  and  men,  to  the  least  in  heaven,  all 
we  heavenly-minded.  Regarding  the  new  earth  as  one  of  the  many 
mansions,  and  redeemed  men  as  one  of  many  classes  of  holy  creatures, 
they,  with  all  worlds  and  all  their  inhabitants,  shall  be  one  in  spirit, 
'♦  holy,"  to  the  extent  of  created  capacity,  "  as  God  is  holy."  Puri  .^  in 
(WOry  thought,  righteousness  in  every  action,  harmony  in  all  relations, 
ties  of  holy  brotherhood,  bind  to<3ether  all  the  members  of  the  fiimiiy 
that  is  named  after  and  provided  for  by  the  Son  of  God.  Ties  of 
filiation  and  affinity  bind  them  to  God  Himpelf.  They  are  all  the 
Sons  of  God — the  first  and  the  last  born— and  all  like  their  Father, 
6<^ng  Him  as  He  is, 


"The  kingdom  of  God  is  within  them.' 


4,  One  other  element  in  the  blessedness  of  Christ's  redeemed  in 
the  world  to  come — the  best  of  all,  and  the  ground  of  all  other  blessing 
^-^•emains  to  be  considered. 

Scripture  means  by  the  term  "heaven,"  in  the  highest  sense,  the 
Throne  and  dwelling-place  of  Almighty  God,  This  signification  of 
the  word  suggests  to  us,  in  connection  with  the  promise  of  the  "  new 
haavens,"  the  thought  that,  in  that  fair  world  where  the  ransomed  of 
the  Lord  dwell  with  Him  and  see  His  glory,  they  shall  have  a  know- 
ledge of,  and  a  liberty  of  access  to  the  Holiest  place,  and  to  Him  who 
sanctifies  it  with  His  immediate  presence,  and  this  in  a  manner  so 
infinitely  superior  to  all  former  communion  with  God,  that  it  is  fitly 
described  by  the  phrase  "  new  heavens." 

In  the  solar  system  all  the  planets  revolve  around  the  sun  in  their 
respective  orbits.  It  is  more  than  conjectured  by  men  of  science  that 
our  sun  and  other  suns,  with  all  their  dependent  planets,  revolve  in 
Almost  measui'eless  orbits  round  a  more  glorious  central  sun,  v.hicb 


30 


AND  THE  NEW  EARTH. 


letiiins  all  worlds  in  connection  with  itself,  regulates  their  movements, 
and  maintains  harmonious  action  amonjjj  them.  Revelation,  as  well  as 
science,  points  to  this  central  sun,  and  (.'alls  it  the  throne  of  the  Lord 
of  Hosts,  where  sits  the  Creator  ami  King,  sustaining  and  controlling 
tl  0  submissive  universe. 

(jod  is  indeed  in  all  His  worlds;  they  all  doclaro  His  glory;  lut 
Scripture  speaks  of  one  high  and  holy  place  where  Jehovah  dwells, — 
ivhero,  mora  than  anywhere  else,  lie  displays  Hie  majesty,  and  rctfjives 
the  homage  of  His  beloved  and  loving  subjects.  Everywhere  in  the 
new  heavens  and  new  earth  shall  the  tnices  of  His  footsteps  bo  seen, 
.*iuil  in  all  objects  shall  be  recognized  the  impressioas  of  His  wisdom, 
trutii,  and  love.  But  around  that  visible  throne,  within  that  temple  in 
the  midst  of  heaven,  shall  be  clustered  togelhei-  all  the  beauty,  and  the 
worth,  all  the  goodness  and  the  grandeur,  tJie  scattering  rays  from 
which  gave  gloiy  to  all  worlds  and  beings  they  fell  upon. 

How  awful,  and  yet  how  entrancing  is  that  throne!  With  over- 
shadowing cherubim,  and  seraphs  kneeling  round,  veiling  their  faces 
with  gol  'en  wings:  with  angel  chorus  pe.'iling,  and  voices  of  redeemed 
sinners  bleuJing  with  the  thrilling,  overcoming  strains  of  heaven's 
adoring  melodies.     Who  can  speak  of  that? 

If  bye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heiird :  if  it  is  know  n  to  none  beside 
God,  what  He  hath  prepared  for  them  that  wait  for  Him,  what  nmst 
His  own  glory  be  ?  what  the  glory  of  the  Lamb  in  the  midst  of  that 
throne?  If  the  momentary  vision,  seen  through  the  surrounding  haze 
<jf  mortality,  be  so  dazxlingly  beautiful  that  description  falters,  tlien 
Ceases  to  speak,  or  articulates  with  choking  Noice,  iis  in  the  words  of 
l^aul,  "  I  knew  a  man  in  Christ  above  fourteen  years  ago  (whether  in 
the  body  1  ciinnot  tell,  or  out  of  the  body  I  cannot  tell :  God  knoweth) ; 
such  an  one  caught  up  to  tlie  third  lieaven.  I  knew  such  a  man,  how 
that  he  was  caught  up  into  paradise,  and  heard  unspeakable  words, 
which  it  is  not  lawful "  (possible)  "  for  a  man  to  utter."  If  this  be  all, 
or  the  best,  one  to  whom  -he  revelation  was  given  can  say,  who  needs 
attempt  to  describe  the  Tnrone  of  God?  That  throne  is  a  reality, 
however,  as  sure  as  now  is  the  throne  of  grace;  and  sis  there  is  access 
to  the  latter  here  by  "the  new  and  living  way,"  so  there  shall  be  access 
to  tho  former  above  for  all  the  blood-wtished  and  holy  creiitures  of  God« 
Attention  has  been  recently  cfdled  to  an  interesting  branch  of 
study  in  one  department  of  natural  science  by  a  gifted  and  trustworthy 
author,  Dr.  McCosh,  in  "  Typical  forms  and  special  ends  in  creation^^ 
In  this  work  it  is  affirmed  that  in  the  nuiterial  unl\erse  a  principle  of 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


81 


order  rules,  or  there  is  **a  general  plan,  piittorn,  or  type,  to  whrch 
every  given  object  is  :nadc  to  conform  with  more  or  less  precision." 
More,  everythinj;-  formed  by  God  in  a  lower  sphere  and  order,  ^'is 
homologiies  and  analogues  in  a  higher.  In  this  we  liave  evidence  / 
One  de.'-igning  mind,  and  of  a  unity,  and  harmony  in  plan,  through 
all  God's  works.  By  this,  too,  means  of  culture  arc  funiished  for  all 
our  faculties  now,  and  for  a  better  stato  and  higher  knowledge.  The 
same  author  says:  "  All  aninjal  bodies  point  to  man  as  the  ape?:  of  tlie 
ejirthly  hierarchy.  Professor  Owen  tells  us  that  all  the  parts  and 
organs  of  man  had  been  sketched  out,  in  anticipation,  so  to  speak,  in 
the  inferior  animals.'  But  may  not  this  higher  form  on  earth  point  to 
a  still  higher  form  ?  Man's  body  on  earth  may  be  but  a  prefiguration 
of  his  body  in  heaven.  But  some  will  say,  How  are  the  dead  raised 
up,  and  with  what  body  do  tliey  come ?  The  apostle  does  not  gi\e  a 
direct  answer  to  this  question,  but  he  points  to  certain  analogies,  or 
rather  honid'ophytes,  which  show  that  while  the  body  presevves  its 
identity,  it  will  be  changed  into  a  noblei  form,  as  the  seed  is  changed 
when  it  springs  up  as  a  plant.  In  heaven,  then,  our  bodies  are  to  be 
after  a  higher  model,  'sjjiritual'  and  'celestial.'  It  doth  not  yet 
appear  what  we  shall  be,  but  being  planted  in  the  likeness  of  His  deatli, 
we  shall  also  be  planted  in  the  likeness  of  His  resurrection,  and  when 
He  appears  wo  shall  be  like  Him.  Our  bodies  shall  then  be  iashioncd 
like  unto  His  glorious  body,  which  we  may  conceive  to  be  the  most 
sublimated  and  obedient  form  and  modification  of  ni'tterial  agency; 
and  modern  science,  while  it  cannot  efface  the  indelible  distinction 
between  mind  and  matter,  is  c\'ery  day  enlarging  our  conceptions  of 
the  capacities  of  matter.  Thus,  the  simplest  organism  points  by  ita 
structure  npward  to  man,  and  mau's  earthly  frame  points  to  his  heavenly 
frame,  and  his  heavenly  frame  to  Christ's  spiritual  body— and  we  see 
that  all  animated  things  on  earth  point  onward  to  His  glorilied  huma- 
nity tis  the  grand  Ai'chetype  of  all  that  luis  life." 

The  confirmation  which  this  passage  gi\'es  to  views  advanced  in 
a  preceding  part  of  this  essay,  will  be  a[>parent  to  the  reader;  but  it  is 
quoted,  for  the  purpose  of  helping  us  in  the  consideration  of  some  other 
analogies.  If  there  are  typical  forms  in  creation — patterns  and  pre- 
iigurations  on  a  lower  i)latform  of  better  and  more  perfect  forms  upon 
a  higher — have  we  not  reason  to  conclude  that,  in  like  maimer,  there 
are  typical  forms — patterns  and  foreshadow! iigs  of  better  things  to 
come — in  the  ordinances  and  ways  of  God  in  His  present  admiuistra- 
tiou  of  providence  and  gr;ice  ? 


r 


n 


AND  THE  NEW  EABTH. 


In  the  church  of  old  there  were  festive  days,  when  the  tribes  of 
Israel  went  up,  all  the  families  of  the  land — the  men,  their  wives,  and 
their  little  ones  together,  to  appear  before  the  Lord  in  His  holy  place : 
when  the  roads  leading  to  Jerusalem  were  thronged  with  travellers,  and 
the  "  city  of  solemnities"  and  temple  courts  were  filled  with  devout  and 
happy  worshippers.  And  though  often  at  hist,  much  of  the  seeming 
devotion  was  but  hollow  show,  yet  many  and  many  a  time  in  Israel's 
history  their  passovers  and  pentecosts  were  times  of  joy  and  refreshing. 

In  the  Christian  church  too,  though  it  possesses  no  visible  temple 
of  which  God  says  exclusively,  "  Hero  will  I  stay,  for  I  do  like  it," 
there  is  the  spiritual  temple  in  which  God  the  Spirit  dwells:  there  arc 
f(«tive  seasons — -times  of  special  access  to  the  mercy-seat,  of  spociid 
afproaeh  and  communion  with  the  Father,  with  Jesus  and  saints  in 
gospel  ordinances.  Why  may  we  not  regard  these  .i^s  typical  forms  of 
what  shall  be  hereafter,  of  festival,  of  access  to  God,  and  high  com- 
munion with  Him  and  all  His  family  in  the  state  of  glory  ? 

We  may  thus  thinlv— that  there,  where  the  gloiious  God  has 
gathered  around  Him  all  His  majesty,  where  unseen,  yet  present  and 
declared  Deity  is  enthroned,  will  "the  gathering  of  the  poople  be:"  to 
that  Temple  of  the  Universe  shall  go  up  with  haiT)  and  song,  with 
offerings,  and  homage,  and  burning  love,  no*,  tribes  of  Israel  alone,  not 
even  all  kindreds  and  tongues  of  earth  alone,  but  all  worlds  shall  pour 
fiirth  their  myriads,  and  from  one  end  of  heaven  to  the  other  bV.all  they 
fl&semble,  and  ascend  the  hill  of  God,  to  prostrate  themselves  in  lowly 
reverence  before  that  August,  Presence,  to  feast  upon  His  love  in  the 
house  of  their  Father,  to  drink  of  the  rivers  of  His  pleasures,  and  to 
mingle  their  hallelujahs  till  the  melodious  strains  swell  louder  than  the 
voice  of  many  waters,  attuning  eveiy  element  in  their  being  in  harmony 
with  the  nature  of  the  God  they  adore. 

What  times  of  refreshing  then  from  the  presence  of  Jehovah,  and 
never  to  be  followed  by  declension  and  languor !     Never ! 

That  we  can  think  such  thoughts!  That  we  can  gaze  on  such  a 
vision,  at  such  a  distance  I  We,  poor  creatures  of  a  day,  crushed  befot  j 
the  moth,  stained  all  with  sin.  Rebels  against  that  God !  And  yet 
to  U3  the  hope  is  given,  to  us  the  way  is  laid  open,  and  we  are  invite  I 
to  that  new  world,  to  that  glorious  throne,  and  to  Him  who  redeems, 
and  qualifies  for  dwelling  there. 

This  representation  of  the  "new  heavens  and  the  new  earth 
wherein  dwelleth  righteousness" — not  so  entirely  unlike  the  present 
heavens  and  earth  as  we  may  have  iraagir.ed,  yet  warranted,  it  is 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS.  m 

believed,  by  all  wo  know  of  tbo  Wonl  and  woik-t  of  Ood — is  gi\Oi,  .m 
a  humble  c libit  towaixls  the  foi-eahaclowinijj  of  th.it,  luippy  state  whore 
i'atist)nied  and  restored  niaii  shall  meet  all  th(3  renuirtitos  of  ]K'il'oct 
huinjinity,  fullil  the  cud  of  his  being,  and  be  perfectly  blessed  in  the 
full  enjoyment  of  God  for  ever. 

As  represented,  it  is  a  .state  of  txlstencc,  with  elements  in  it  to 
■evoke  all  our  pynipatbie.s,  to  cxerci.'^c  in  higlic.-it  |»ur.suits  all  '  nr  facul- 
ties, to  enlist  and  elevate  all  our  atlect.ion.s  and  desires :  its  social  iiapi  i- 
iiess  is  st?curcd  by  an  intelligent,  holy  companioii^liip:  and  its  ffliciiy  i,s 
completed  and  crowned  by  a  God  and  8a\iour  to  know,  and  love,  and 
rtervt',  and  prai.se  for  eser. 

May  the  delineation  have  the  elTect  cf  leading  those  who  look  upon 
it  to  think  nice  frequently  of  luaveii  as  "tjie  Father's  house,"  arnl 
"the  .sweet  home"  of  the  follfnvers  of  Jesus,  than  even  Chiistians 
generally  do;  and  may  it  fuUlier  tend  to  induce  them  to  sei'k  now  tlie 
grace  that  culiniuatos  in  glory,  that  so  an  entrance  may  bo  ministered 
^mto  them  abundantly  into  the  eveila-sting  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Je.sus  Christ. 


Wo  have  seen  that  the  "  new  heavens,  and  new  earth,  Avhei'ein 
dwellelh  rio'hteousness,"  is  a  state  of  existence  wherein  humaniiv  k 
restored  from  the  ruins  of  ih.'  fall,  renewed  unto  perfection,  and  exalted 
to  a  sphere  of  glor}',  where  ail  its  powers  llnd  meet  employ n^ent,  all  its 
beauties  are  unfolded,  and  all  its  excellencies  are  deseloped  in  an  end- 
less career  of  progre.-'vsion : — where  all  clrcunistanccs  are  designed  and 
titted  to  atlbrd  i-'ratilication,  to  call  into  exercis(j  blissful  thouofht  and 
feeling  and  effort,  and  to  furnish  matter  for  unceasing  praise: — where 
the  Giory  of  the  Divine  Majesty,  and  i  le  Glory  of  the  Divine  Lovo 
beamino'on  all,  and  irradiatinij  that  heaven  and  earth,  form  the  Li"ht 
of  the  Eternal  Day.     For  such  a  state  of  being,  assured  to  them  by  the 
promise  of  God,  the  faithful  followers  of  Jesus  have  looked  and  longed 
in  every  age  :  and  th(i  prospect  has  ever  been  to  them  an  encouiage- 
ment,  and  a  directory  in  tlie  discharge  of  Chj-istian  duty. 

There  are  pre-eminently  two  effects  that  will  naturally  follow  the 
believing  view  of  this  prospect  of  the  saints'  inheritance:  First,  an 
emotional  one ;  the  man  who  looks  ii2)on  the  representation,  and  relit.'s 
ujx)n  it  as  a  truthful  foreb'.adowing  of  what  God  hatli  prepared  for 
them  that  love  Ilira,  will  be  filled  with  emotions  of  desire,  hope,  joy, 
with  gi-atitude  to  the  lledeemer,  and  increasing  love  lo  Him  and  to  all 
that  He  loves  and  ordains:  and  secondly;  a  practical  effect, — the  man 
0 


^ 


84 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


vho  roalizes  tliis  vision  of  pnrmliso,  atirl  whose  spirit  thrills  with  the 
emotions  referred  to,  will  bo  stimulatetl  to  every  virtuous  exertion,  to 
active  and  i)atien«  wvll-tloing,  to  meek  resignation  un<K'r  prcsont  dis- 
appointments and  sufl'crings,  and  to  as8i«luous  cultivation  of  every 
ficulty  that  id  to  be  exercised,  and  of  every  budding  grace  that  is  to  bo 
unfolded  in  the  better  world.  He  will  bloss  the  Lord  for  tho  Unspeak- 
able Gift;  he  will  druw  closer  to  Jesus  the  anchor  of  his  soul  and  tho 
pattern  of  the  Christian  life;  he  will  cherish  godly  fear  and  love;  and 
it  will  be  his  steadfast  aim  to  carry  out  in  practice,  in  all  relations  and 
circumstances,  the  ]>recepl8  of  the  holy  law  which  the  Sauctilier  has 
written  on  his  heart. 

Some  brief  observations  in  reference  to  the  ])ractical  issue  spring- 
ing from  the  contempl.-tion  of  the  future  state  of  the  redeemed,  may 
fitly  and  usefully  close  this  essay.  For  while  the  prospect  of  glory  n\ 
the  world  to  come  will  naturally  excite  every  soul  looking  heavenward, 
it  is  still  necessary  to  enjoin  dutifulness,  and  to  direct  it  to  the  proper 
channel  and  end.  So  does  the  Apostle,  whose  words  about  the  new 
lieavens  and  erirth  hiwo  formed  the  grovndwoik  of  al}  our  considerJH 
tions:  immediately  after  stating  what  Christians  looked  for,  aceord in g 
to  God's  promise,  ho  adds — "  \Vhereft.»rc,  beloved,  seeing  that  ye  look 
for  siieh  tilings,  be  diligent  that  ye  may  be  found  of  Him  in  peace, 
without  spot,  and  blameless." 

A  proper  diligence  in  tliis  matter,  as  ir  every  olhar,  takes  its 
tijiecial  directi(m  and  characteri.stic"*  from  tlie  object  desired,  and  the 
advantage  to  be  gaiutHl  by  itb  })ursuit.  It  is  God  we  are  to  meet  with. 
Tiie  prospect  boibre  us  is  the  bright  aboile  of  perfect  humanity  ,".nd  c^f 
holy  iingels, — the  beiiuj'  for  ever  with  the  Lord;  therefore  tho  diligencu 
enjoined  is  a  diligent  attention  to  the  improvement  of  everything  really 
and  i>roi)erly  human  about  us, — a  diligent  cultivation  of  every  gracious 
])rinciple  the  Holy  Spirit  has  imj)hinted,  or  is  ready  to  imidant  within 
n-, — and  a  diligent  use  of  all  commanded  means  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  both  ends.  In  other  words,  tho  prospect  of  new  heavens  and 
!!  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness,  suggests  to  the  intt^lligent 
and  thoughtful  mind  the  necessity  of  prej)aration,  an.]  a  prejjaratlon 
atlecting  the  material,  intellectual,  moral,  and  religious  natuie  of  mr.n, 
}is  requisite  for  admission  into,  and  enjoyment  of  that  state  where  per- 
fect hunian  beings  rejoice  in  God  their  Saviour,  and  where  that  holy 
(rud  presides — honored,  loved,  and  served  by  every  member  of  His 
iimumerable  family. 

The  human  body  God  formed  at  first  from  the  dust.    It  is  f(ia^ 


AND  THE  NEW    EARTH. 


d5 


fjilly  anil  A>Y>n<loi  fully  mndc,  witli  the  most  curiously  contrived,  nicely 
a<ljust«<^l,  8wt'et«'.st  working,  and,  for  its  fizo,  the  strongest  mechanism 
man  knows  of.  God  Hustains  the  life  of  that  body  in  the  individual 
against  a  tlrousand  dangers  seen  and  unseen,  and  the  whole  earth  is 
laid  mider  conliiliution  to  supply  its  wants.  God  maintains  that  lifo 
in  the  uuinlerru{>ti;d  » xistonco  of  mankind  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion; and  tV)r  this  lie  ordys  and  contiola  all  the  operations  of  nature, 
flnd  all  the  events  ia  providence.  In  that  body,  now  mortal,  doomed 
to  decay  and  death,  lies  the  germ  of  the  glorified  body  of  the  saintg:  in 
v)me  form  it  slmll  rino  again  from  the  tomb; — "this  mortal  shall  put 
on  immortality^"'  and  dwell  with  angels  and  the  God  of  angels — with 
Jesus  anrl  Jil\V.  Josus,  in  tlic  case  of  al!  the  saved.  What  was  proper 
for  G'xl  to  croiite,  care  for,  assume  to  Himseli',  redeem,  raise  again  from 
the  'load,  and  introduce  to  hea\'en>  sui'cly  ilescrves  our  caie. 

It  is  true  the  bodily  app'^tites  are  generally  attended  to  with 
injudicious  and  overweoniiig  anxiety— -pampering  the  llesli,  while  the 
precious  soul  ap.d  its  interests  are  unheeded.  But  notwithstanding,  not 
tho  less — ^'lU  the  more,  is  it  uece&sary  to  tell  men  to  bcbtow  on  the  body 
proper  care;  this  is  .is  much  a  duty  iu  its  place,  as  to  abstain  from 
moral  evil,  and  to  follow  that  which  is  good. 

Human  lifo — the  lifo  of  the  Inxly,  is  to  be  regan.led  as  tho  property 
of  God,  given  us  in  trust  for  usefulitess.  It  is  to  be  estechied  sacred. 
It.s  wanton  destroyer  is  accursed.  *'  The  sixth  commandment  requireth 
all  lawful  endciivours  to  preserve  our  own  life,  and  the  lifo  of  others. 
Ifadth  is  to  be  prized;  wli<  lost  we  are  to  resort  to  proper  measures 
for  its  rceoverjr,  and  ail  habiLs  tending  to  injure  it  are  to  be  avoide<]» 
Cleanliness;  sober,  industrious  comluct;  abstinence  from  intemperate 
indulgences;  and  projy  altoution  to  food — its  quantity,  quality,  and 
wholesome  cooking;  al!  means  of  preserving  health  and  life  which  God 
has  piovided  directh  or  indirectly  through  human  industry  and  art, 
•re  required,  and  to  be  sought  after.  "  Wheti  er  ye  eat  or  drink,  cr 
whatever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God." 

The  importance  of  tiiis  duty  is  enhanced  by  the  close  connect iou 
between  body  and  mind,  and  the  influence  which  the  sfcite  of  the  one 
exerts  upon  the  action  of  tJie  other.  It  is  an  incontrovertible  fact  that 
the  healthy,  fuJl-toned  vitality  of  the  soul  is  to  some  extent  dependent 
upon  vigor  and  healthiness  in  ihe  body.  Miud  is  manifested  through 
ibo  bodily  organ?.  Injure,  or  destroy  any  organ,  and  you  so  far  aftect 
mind  injuriously  or  destructively  to  all  intents  and  purposes.  A  morbid 
physical  condition,  induced  by  vicious  habits,  will  produce  diatemi)er 


so 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


of  Loth  mind  and  morals,  wLon  tliere  is  no  appearance  of  disease  cv 
hurt  requiring  physician's  or  surfreon's  aid.  Lowners  of  spirits,  hati 
temper,  even  reliiiious  melanclioly  is  most  frequently  owing  mainly  to 
a  diseased  condition  of  body; — "  that  has  often  caused  a  diseased  con- 
science, which  again  has  hecome  the  parent  of  unhealthy  and  polluted 
moral  sentiniunts  and  actions." 

Time  was  Avhen  men,  a;-:piring  to  the  highest  order  of  sanctity, 
rested  their  claims  to  the  emiivnce  they  sought  on  their  austerities, 
faslinfs,  tortures  of  the  bodv,  and  fillhinesst    Thev  thought  thcTAvere 
"crucifying  the  flesh!"      Such  ideas  originated  in  the  old  heathen 
notion  of  the  two  principles — Good,  and  Evil,  with  their  respective 
proo'cnies — Mind,  and  ^Matter.      The   soul  was  regarded  as  a  spirit 
imprisoned  in  tlie  hody,  and  polluted  by  its  lusts.     "Waste  the  body,'* 
they  said,  '  it  is  accursed  matter;'  and  set  the  spirit  free,  'the  offspring 
of  Light.'"     All  the  while  it  was  the  spirit  that  was  corrupt,  histfii], 
carnal,  which  made  the  body  the  servile  instrument  of  its  will,  and  the 
putierer  in  oonsc<|uenco.     Such  ideas  are  not  altogether  dispelled  yet, 
"  Crucifying  the  flesh  "  is  not  always  undorsto<xl  to  be  the  crucifying 
of  corrupt  nature — the  evil  bias,  the  pride,  malevolence,  and  impiety  of 
the  soul.     Keander  i-elatos  that  in  the  early  Christian  ages  fasting  wa.t 
observof],  by  those  who  had  m>">re  truly  apprehended  the  Di\'in8  lif«'v 
by  abstinence  from  the  ordinary  more  expensive  meals,  using  a  little 
plain  footi,  and  taking  the  ditferenco  between  the  cost  of  the  more 
luxurious  and  plainer  living  and  giving  it  to  the  poor.     And  such,  you 
will  find  in  Isaiah  Iviii.,  is  precisely  the  fast  which  God  has  chosen. 

Care  then  ft>r  t^se  body  as  the  instrument  of  the  immortal  soul — 
as  that  which  is  to  be  fashioned  yet  like  Christ's  glorious  body.  Use 
the  gO(xl  g-ifis  of  G(xl  as  lie  designs  them  to  bo  used,  in  moderation, 
and  with  thankfulness,  and  even  thatdivty  will  contribute  towards  your 

preparation  for  a  better  woild. 

In  the  new  world  to  which  the  Christian  loolts  forward^the  human 
intellect  shall  reach  its  highest  state  of  capacity  and  culture;  the  same 
intellect  which  man  possessed,  and  which  bog*an  its  enquiries  here,  shall 
prosecute  them  there  through  eternity,  God  made  Hs  intelligent.  He 
seeks  fronri  us  intelligent  soi-vice  and  worship — praSse  with  the  heart  uu\ 
with  the  unders Landing.  The  revelation  He  hath  given  us  ip  made  to 
our  intelligence ;  we  cannot  understand  it  till  we  l^noir  of  things  aboiU 
us;  we  cannot  comprehend  heavenly  things,  if  destitute  of  the  know- 
ledge of  earthly.  And  God^s  Avorks,  around  us,  in  MSy.  aie  also  a 
rovelution  to  us.    They  cast  light  upon  the  Word,    Just  va  we  kuow 


AND  THE  NEW  EAETn. 


37 


better  all  knowledge,  shall  we  know  mora  fully  the  sa^■^ng  knowledge 
revealed  in  Scripture. 

Cultivate  your  intelloot  then.  Give  exercise  to  its  powers.  Take 
time.  Spend  money  to  nourish  the  craving  for  knowledge  within  you. 
It  is  true  all  secular  knowledge  may  ha  well  accounted  loss  for  the 
cxcolleuoy  of,  or  in  com{)arisoii  with  the  knowledge  of  Christ.  But  if 
vou  seek  and  find  the  saving  knowlodgo,  that  will  not  by  any  means 
hind.er  you  from  acquiring  all  the  other  you  can,  and  its  possession  will 
b-'Defit  you  in  many  a  way. 

It  is  conceded  that  if  a  man  determines  to  pursue  a  course  of 
wickedness,  knowledge  will  make  a  more  accomplished  villain  of  him: 
hut  that  is  no  proof  that  its  tendency  is  not  to  better  and  cK'v.'ite 
humanity.  The  intelligent  evil-doer  is  a  greater  criminal,  nut  only 
hocause  he  knows  more;  he  excels  the  ordinary  criminal  chiefly  because 
he  has  overleaped  barriei's  of  morality  Avhich  e<lucation  placed  in  his 
Avay,  which  are  not  encountered  by  the  more  ignoraiit  man,  and  thus 
increased  and  intensified  his  villainy. 

All  truth — all  matter  of  knowledge  is,  eitlier  God's  works  without 
us,  or  the  cogitations  and  thoughts  of  our  o'.vn  and  other  minds,  or  the 
deeds  of  men — actions,  and  consequences,  which  liave  transpired  under 
the  overruling  providence  of  (rod.  There  are  no  other  objects  of  know- 
ledge outside  of  revelation.  And  must  not  every  intelligent  view  of 
any  of  these  objects  increase  our  knowledge  of  God,  of  His  works,  Hi4 
wise  dealingvS,  His  holy  judgments,  and  His  intimate  connection  with, 
and  interest  in  the  children  of  men? 

Search  after  truth.  All  light  is  from  God.  Investigate,  Learn, 
Reason.  And  by  so  doing  enlarge  and  store  the  mind,  which  may 
revel  yet  in  the  science  of  heaven. 

God  made  us  also  moral  agents.  Wo  have  a  knowledge  of  right 
and  wrong.  We  are  imder  obligation  to  choose  good,  to  resist  e\il, 
and  accountable  for  all  thought  and  doing  to  the  Judge  of  all. 

This  moral  sense  places  man  still  higher  iu  the  scale  of  being,  and 
makes  his  position  ono  of  solemn  and  momentous  consequence.  He  is 
forming  a  moral  character  here  which  is  to  qualify  him  for  dwelling  in 
the  kingdom  of  light,  or  a  character  which  is  to  fit  him  for  the  abyss 
of  darkness  and  woe. 

In  the  new  earth  dwelleth  righteousness.  The  unjust,  the  false, 
the  impure,  the  unholy,  cannot  enter  the  gates  of  righteousness.  Even 
here,  intellect — genius,  without  moral  character,  is  but  a  splendid  ruin 


S8 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS 


I. 


\] 


— a  glittering  gilding  upon  n.  substance  rotten  to  the  core, — tlio  liglit  of 
A  wandering  meteor  cast  upon  the  pathway  to  destructiou. 

True  morality  is  accordance  with  God's  moral  law.  Good  moral 
character  is  conformity  to  God's  will.  We  owe  devotion  and  adherence 
to  truth  at  all  risks.  Justice  is  to  bo  regarded  in  all  our  dealing",  and 
in  all  the  estimates  and  purposes  we  form.  Goodness  is  to  bo  foUowetl 
constantly,  at  home,  and  abi-oad.  Mercy  we  need,  and  hope  for,  ami 
mercy  we  must  show,  and  bestow.  In  striving  to  act  thus,  wo  follow 
Christ ;  and  these  attainments  are  all  possible  throrigh  Ilis  gra^Q, 
"Trust  in  the  Lord  then,  and  do  good."  So  ai-e  you  training  for  that 
stiito  where  all  "  His  servants  serve  Him ;"  where  "  they  see  His  fact', 
and  His  name  is  in  their  foreheads;"  that  is,  where  perfect  goodness — 
Gofl-likeness—is  visible  in  the  very  countenance,  in  the  manner,  and  in 
all  the  actiuns  of  the  fjimily  of  God. 

In  gloiy  God  is  all,  and  in  all ;  He  fills  all  heavens ;  and  all  love 
and  adore  IJim  there.  Here  that  God  must  be  sought  and  known,  and 
His  gi-ace  obtained,  if  we  arc  to  have  a  dwelling  with  all  who  love  His 
blossyd  name. 

Tlierefore  in  public  and  private  worship,  wo  are  to  revei'once  and 
adore  Him  as  the  Creator,  the  Supreme  and  only  God,  the  Ahuighty 
and  Everlasting  Lord,*---huly,  and  just,  and  wise,  and  merciful  and 
gracious.  We  are  to  keep  God's  Sabbaths,  and  reverence  His  sanctu- 
?iries; — assembling  in  the  great  congregation  to  bow  ourselves  before 
the  Lord,  and  hoar  what  He  hath  to  say  to  us,  for  our  good  alwaj . 
We  are  to  delight  ourselves  in  His  abundant  grace,  and  also  in  His 
holy  law.  And  we  are  to  make  sacrifices  according  to  the  will  of  God, 
<'hoorfully  surreudcsring  mean*,  inclination,  even  Hfe  itself,  if  need  be, 
for  His  name's  sake : — blessing  Him  ever  for  the  goodness  and  mercy 
which  have  followed  us  all  the  days  oi  our  life,  and  for  the  hoi)e  of 
dwelling  in  His  house  for  ever. 

In  this  connection,  one  duty  above  all  is  incumbent  on  us,  as  being 
both  dojiendent  and  sinful  creatures, — that  of  prayer.  All  good  is  His, 
and  must  come  to  us  from  Him.  Life,  Health,  Redemption,  Heaven, 
3i*e  tlio  gifts  of  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  "Lot  your 
n3t|n3st3  bo  made  known  to  God  by  supplication  and  prayer." 

This  attitude  before  God  is  honoring  to  Htm,  and  becoming  in  a«^ 
Prayer  reminds  us  of  our  dependence  and  our  guilt:  it  brings  us  near 
to  the  Merciful :  it  is  an  exercise  of  the  soul  in  healthiest  action  :  and  ii 
i:8  most  beneficial  in  its  results. 

There  is  One  Mediator  between  God  and  man,  the  man  Cikiiat 


AND  TH1>  NEW  EARTH. 


39 


Jesus,  and  but  one  way  of  approach  to  the  Mercy-seat  In  Christ's 
name  draw  near  and  ask  the  Fatlier,  and  He  will  give.  By  that  new 
and  li\ing  way  venture  to  the  throne  of  giace,  as  suppliants,  and  the 
needed  mercy  will  not  be  withheld.  Iluinihty  will  be  our  garb  then; 
and  penitential  feeling  will  inspire  us  with  hatred  of  sin,  and  gratitude 
to  the  Saviour;  and  trustfulness  will  east  a  peaceful  calm  into  the  wcarv, 
anxious  heart.  And  there  will  bo  a  looking  unto  Jesus  on  the  Cross, 
and  within  the  vail;  and  a  pleading  for  the  Holy  Spirit  of  promise; 
and  by  (Jod's  grace  we  will  become  temples  wherein  that  Spirit  will 
dwell..  And  thus  are  ^\  3  being  prepared,  and  fltly  qualified  for  a  place 
in  the  tem])le  above. 

Reference  has  now  been  made  to  almost  the  whole  circle  of  human 
duty. — the  glorifying  Ood  with  the  body  and  spirit  which  are  God's. 

Of  tht'  various  duties  mentioned,  all  are  related  in  some  wav  to 
the  future  life,  and  all  are  of  importance,  though  not  all  of  like  imjx>rt- 
ance.  Let  us  suppose  a  man  of  bad  character  and  di.<sii)aied  habits, 
hving  with  his  wretched  family  in  a  ruined  house,  just  ready  to  fall 
u\X)n  their  heads,  Ontsido  the  miherable  dwelling  the  surroundings 
are  like  the  mansion.  What  was  once  a  garden  is  an  uncultivated 
waste,  Avith  here  a  stagnant  pool  of  tletid  water,  there  a  ho  ip  of  rubbish, 
and,  where  anything  green  can  grow,  a  growth  of  thistles  and  nettles 
doing  tlicir  best  to  thrive.  Round  about  all  a  shattered  paling,  that 
had  been  a  neat  fence,  coniplctes  the  picture  of  desolation.  Everything 
about  that  man  needs  reform. 

Let  us  further  suppose  that  one  day  a  better  thought  arises  in  his 
doofraded  mind.  He  will  reform,  and  do  well.  An  eflbrt  or  two  will 
not  do,  Some  few  repairs,  a  new  fence,  the  restoration  of  the  apj)ear- 
ance  of  a  garden  are  not  enough;  nor  the  propping  up  within  and 
without  of  the  old  house,  nor  even  a  new  house.  He  meds  to  become 
a  new  man,  or  all  other  repaiis  and  reforms  will  leave  an  unhappy 
family  still.  Rut  knowing  this,  and  resolving  to  be  a  new  man,  ceas- 
ing from  evil  practices,  and  gradually  returning  to  respectability  and 
well-doing,  surely  he  may  prop  the  old  house  up  till  a  new  one  is  built, 
purely  he  may  dress  his  ground  and  repair  his  fence  meanwhile,  and  so 
doing,  1  e  doing  well. 

So  man  before  God  is  a  ruin ;— undone,  polluted  and  degraded  ly 
Bin.  He  needs  to  be  made  new  throughout.  He  needs  above  all  and 
first  of  all  a  new  heart — the  living  holy  principle  of  grace,  which  God 
only  can  implant.  If  man  in  this  state,  convinced  that  he  is  wrong, 
resolves  to  bo  right,  and  this  a\  ithout  reference  to  God,  to  Christ,  to  the 


40 


THE  NEW  HEAVENS. 


'i    ■  - 

I     ! 


Spii'it  of  all  gi-ace;  ho  may  reform  somewhat,  he  may  cast  off  somo 
ottiiiisive  liabits,  and  assume  some  of  a  better  kind ;  he  may  cultivate 
his  mind  in  a  certain  way,  and  care  for  himself  and  his  family  in 
another  manner  than  before.     But  if  he  stops  there,  if  ho  intends  that 
for  his  salvation,  he  is,  as  a  sinner,  as  lost,  or  more  lost  than  when  he 
lay  at  ease  in  spiritual  blindness  and  dobjisement.     Suppose,  however, 
that  the  fellen  man  attains  to  a  true  self-knowledge,  and  becomes  aware 
of  his  guilt  and  danger,  and  that  tbeu  ho  seeks  unto  Jesus  for  mercy 
and  heahng,  that  he  prays  for  the  now  heart  and  the  guiding  S})irit, 
and  longs  for  the  sight  of  a  reconciled  God  and  Father  looking  on  hiai 
in  compassion.    If  Christ  alone  is  regarded  as  his  Hope  and  Salvation, 
— if  the  promised  Spirit  is  sought  and  relied  on  as  his  sole  loader  to 
truth  and  right, — surely,  while  the  good  Spirit  is  drawing  hiui  on,  he 
may  be  ceasing  from  every  evil  he  can  think  ot^  and  learning  all  the 
good  he  can, — he  may  be  correcting  errors,  improving  and  adorning 
]m  mini],  and  bestowing  on  his  body  proper  care; — abroad  and  in  iiis 
family,  in  business  and  in  religion,  in  piivato  and  public  ail'iir.",  endea- 
vouring ever  to  <lo  right  and  seemly  in  iIk.'  sigbt  of  God  and  men.    lie 
may,  ha  must,  he  will,  if  God  is  working  in  him. 

He  does  not  make  these  duties  his  Saviour,  neitlier  the  little  ones 
concerning  the  body  and  the  iifj  that  uo>v  is,  nor  the  great  ones  about 
the  soul  and  God  and  the  world  to  come,  but  his  Sa\iour  has  made 
them  all  sweet  and  profitable  duties  to  him.  So  he  pursues  the  path 
of  commanded  duty,  Christ's  own  road;  Christ  is  e^•er  before  him  in 
it; — Christ,  who  opened  for  us  heaven's  gate,  who  prepared  mansions 
in  the  Father's  house  for  all  his  followers,  and  who  in  this  manner 
prepares  them  for  dwelling  with  Ilim  there. 


I  \l 


i| 


W 


